Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link subsp. neglecta Thell.

Spice Umbel detail

Family: UMBELLIFERAE (APIACEAE)

Genus: Torilis

Catalan common name: Catxurros.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Marshes and torrent sides.

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 subspecies purpurea as its umbels have more radii (4-20) and from subspecies recta as it is larger in size and has longer styles.