Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link subsp. purpurea (Ten.) Hayek

Spice Fruits Leaves Image 2 In the field

Family: UMBELLIFERAE (APIACEAE)

Genus: Torilis

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitat: Humid soils.

Characteristics: An annual Umbelliferae with very divided leaves, like the majority of the rest of the family. The umbels are terminal, and area top of a fairly large peduncle (up to 200 cm.), and the flowers are white in colour and not very large. The fruits are full of spiny appendages or tubercles surrounding them. Differs from the other subspecies purpurea as its umbels have lesser radii (2-4).