Leontodon tuberosus L.

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Leontodon

Sinònims: Thrincia tuberosa (L.) DC

Catalan common name: Nualós.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Europa

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic communities and forest.

Characteristics: This is one more of the numerous species of Mediterranean Compositae with yellow capitula; the most reliable way to recognise it is by looking at its roots which are thick and tuberculate. The leaves are wide and dentate, gathered in a basal rosette, the capitula are to be found on a long leaf-stalk which is easily pressed between your fingers. Leontodon taraxocoides is similar, but without tuberous roots and the floral leaf-stalk is compact. It lives on roadsides or in pinewoods, also in dry small meadows.