Scrophularia peregrina L.
Family: SCROPHULARIACEAE
Genus: Scrophularia
Catalan common name: Estramoni. Herba pudenta. Setge.
Spanish common name: Estramonio.
Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.
Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.
General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean
IUCN Category: Least concern
Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Life-forms: Terophyte.
Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Rocky surfaces and dry stone walls. Cultivated fields, path and road sides, walls.
Characteristics: An annual cycle herb which we will often find in the cracks in the rocks or on dry-stone walls, but also along path-sides. It grows erectly and branches out very little. Like many Scrophulariaceae the stems have of a square cross-section and the leaves are opposite. The stems are often reddish. The leaves have a dentate margin, with a sharp tip and the base is rounded or heart-shaped. The flowers bloom at the top of the plant, they are small but clearly visible, and very dark purple. In the Balearics there is only one other species of Scrophularia which is herbaceous (Scrophularia auriculata) and this is easily distinguished by its larger size and by its lobulate leaves. Scrophularia peregrina flowers in spring.