Rosmarinus officinalis L.

Spice Flower detail Flower In the field In the field 2

Family: LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)

Genus: Rosmarinus

Catalan common name: Romaní. Romer.

Spanish common name: Romero.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Aphrodisiac. Aromatic. Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal. Perfumery. Symbolic uses.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Xero-acanthic shrubs of the mountanous regions, and steppe-grasslands of Ampelodesmos mauritanica. Garden plants. Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Common everywhere.

Characteristics: The rosemary is one of the more well known Mediterranean plants, thanks to its culinary and medicinal uses. Leaves are linear, sclerous and the reverse is whitish due to its pilosity. The blue flowers have two well-marked labellum, also very characteristic. Can flower throughout the year, but by nature usually has a fall and spring flowering period. A sniff is enough to identify this plant, leaves resemble those of Cistus clusii, but neither the flower nor the leaf colour nor the scent has anything to compare with the former.