Raphanus raphanistrum L. subsp. raphanistrum

Spice Flower Fruit In the field

Family: CRUCIFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)

Genus: Raphanus

Catalan common name: Citró. Enviana. Rafenistre. Raveguissa. Ravenissa.

Spanish common name: Rabanillo. Rabaniza. Rábano salvaje. Rábano silvestre.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Tarragona. València.

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Aphrodisiac. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte. Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Cultivated specie.

Characteristics: A herbaceous plant of dry-farmed fields and roadsides. Grows up to a metre an a half in height. Leaves are scratchy to the touch, very divided,; irregular lobes with an apical portion that can be sligthly larger than the rest of the leaf. Flowers are whitish with the veins well-marked in violet. The fruit is very characteristic because it devolops estrangulations between each one of the seeds, giving it quite a peculiar appearance. Subspecies landra has yellow flowers and the fruits are much wider and shorter. Subspecies sativa a radish, is cultivated for its fleshy root. Flowers throught the year.