Calicotome infesta (C. Presl) Guss.

Spice Fruit detail In the field

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Calicotome

Sinònims: Calicotome spinosa (L.) Link subsp. infesta (C. Presl) Burnat

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Tree heather maquis and silicolous garigues. Garriques and forests near the sea.

Characteristics: The gorse bushes in the North of the island of Menorca growing in siliceous soils have greyish branches, and the pods present a silky hairiness which is not very dense; moreover the top of the fruit is wide and clearly winged. These forms have been recognised as Calicotome infesta, or Calicotome spinosa subsp. infesta. These characteristics are inbetween the typical Calicotome spinosa which can be found in the rest of the Balearic islands, and Calicotome villosa in the eastern Mediterranean; it seems to be of hybrid origin yet there is a lack of detailed study to discover its taxonomic value. It flowers throughout spring.