Samolus valerandi L.

Spice In the field

Family: PRIMULACEAE

Genus: Samolus

Catalan common name: Dolceta. Enciam de senyor. Enciamet. Enciamet de la Mare de Deu. Enciamet de senyor.

Spanish common name: Hierba ce. Hierba de la sangre. Hierba jabonera. Lechuguilla. Muraje de arroyos. Pajarilla de agua. Pamplina de agua.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches.

Characteristics: This is a relatively easily recognisable herb: it lives only in very moist, shady places without actually growing inside water: fountains, the edges of torrents (dry river beds), wells, dripping water... During most of the year it can be found as a rosette of rounded leaves growing on the substrate, in spring it grows an erect, raceme-shaped inflorescence, which can reach some hands in size, but is often smaller, bearing small, white flowers. It flowers at the end of spring and in summer.