Cistus creticus L.

Family: CISTACEAE

Genus: Cistus

Catalan common name: Estèpera blava.

Spanish common name: Estepa menorquina.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. València.

Distribution in the islands: Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Pine woodlands and garriques.

Characteristics: In the Balearics there are two rock roses which have a pink flower: one is Cistus albidus which can be found in all the islands, the other is Cistus creticus which is only present in Menorca. Despite the similarity of the flowers, the rest of the plant differs quite a lot between species. The leaves of Cistus creticus are more similar to those of Cistus salviifolius: rounded, with well marked, dark green reticulate veins. They can be distinguished by the basal part of the leaves: in Cistus creticus the petioles embrace the stalk forming a type of sheath; moreover, this species has white flowers.