This guide in this series of botanical monographs aims to provide a comprehensive account of the 19 species of the genus cyclamen. The genus cyclamen comprises of a group of very distinct species native to parts of Europe and western Asia, as well as North Africa. It belongs to the primrose family, the primulaceae, and although the flowers bear some resemblance to other genera in the family, especially dodecatheon and soldanella, cyclamen has no obvious affinities and holds a rather isolated position.