Sideritis romana L. subsp. romana

Spice Flowers In the field

Family: LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)

Genus: Sideritis

Catalan common name: Espinadella petita.

Spanish common name: Zahareña velluda de flor blanca.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera. Dragonera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic communities.

Characteristics: A small annual cycle plant frequents clearings of garrigues and pine forests. Branches usually grow prostrate, although can also be upright, leaves are ovate and pilose. Flowers are grouped at the leaf axils, forming floral whorls, white in colour, although its calyx, with hardened lobes that can puncture, can recognize it; the upper half is also much larger than the other four. Flowers during the spring until almost the beginning of summer.