Galactites tomentosa Moench

Spice In the field Rosete of leaves

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Galactites

Catalan common name: Calcida blanca. Card blanc. Card de xeremeia. Card trompeter.

Spanish common name: Galactites.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Cultivated fields, path and road sides.

Characteristics: This is one of the most frequent thistles in arable land; it has violet-pink flowers, at times whitish. It can be recognised by its leaves which are greatly divided (lobules which nearly reach the rachis) and which on the upper side have quite characteristic white lines. At times Silybum marianum has a similar pattern on its leaves but then the leaves are much larger and less divided.