Asteriscus aquaticus (L.) Less.

Spice In the field In the field 2

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Asteriscus

Catalan common name: Capseta.

Spanish common name: Bovas. Escoba de castañuela.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. 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: Rocky coastlines. Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic silicolous fields.

Characteristics: This is a small, annual cycle Compositae which lives in garrigues (Mediterranean woodland) and dry coastline communities. The inflorescences with very small ligules which barely stick out of the involucre distinguish it from Asteriscus maritimus.