NICOSIA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Cypriot Forestry Department on Tuesday warned that archaeologists who dig on a tiny islet off the western coast of Cyprus endanger a rare indigenous plant which is close to extinction.

The department sent a letter to the Antiquities Department and the local municipality at Peyia asking them to cooperate in the effort to prevent the plant, called Cistanche phelipaea, from becoming extinct.

Forestry Department director Takis Papachristoforou noted in his letter that the Yeronisos islet (meaning Holy Island) and adjoining coastal zone have been declared a national forest park under the European Union Natura 2000 network as being an important habitat for many species of flora and birds.

Cistanche Phelypaea is one of about 150 similar highly localized parasitic species growing on sandy and damp ground in the eastern Mediterranean. The one which grows up to 40 cm on Yeronisos throws its five-lobe corolla flowers right from its root up to its top in March and April.

Archeologists have been digging on Yeronisos islet for the past 15 years, having established that it had been an important anchorage for seafarers.

It was the first land to touch while traveling from west (mostly Greece and the Greek islands) to reach Cyprus itself or other lands further east.

Though a tiny place just 280 m from the coast, it seems to have gained importance in the past as the remnants of an ancient Hellenistic temple dedicated to Apollo and three basilica churches, plus an organized anchorage, were found on the islet.

It is believed that it had been inhabited up to the 15th century.

Papachristoforou said that two forestry department officials who visited the island at the beginning of this month discovered that the plant population is extremely small and is in danger of extinction in Cyprus.

He warned that archaeological excavation over the last 15 years have caused an irreversible reduction of the numbers of the plant and demanded from the Antiquities Department to notify the Forestry Department of any future digging on the islet.

He added that his department will inform archaeologists where to dig without disturbing the plant.