Lotus cytisoides (L.) Arcang.

Spice Flower Flower 2 Fruit

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Lotus

Sinònims: Lotus creticus L. subsp. cytisoides (L.) Arcang.

Catalan common name: Trèvol femella.

Spanish common name: Cuernecillo de mar.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Tarragona. València.

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Rocky coastlines. Coastal zones. Road sides.

Characteristics: This is a perennial legume, herbaceous in appearance, although it has a woody trunk. The plant is has a hairy covering that gives a greyish. Green colouration to the petioles and folioles, often with a fleshy texture. This species is very common to the littoral environment, equally present in the sandy as well as the rocky zones, and sporadically appearing in the interior. This Lotus sp. slightly resembles Lotus corniculatus, although this latter species has narrower, true green folioles, with a clearly apparent herbaceous form.