Pseudorlaya pumila (L.) Grande subsp. pumila

Spice Fruit detail Flowers In the field

Family: UMBELLIFERAE (APIACEAE)

Genus: Pseudorlaya

Catalan common name: Cospí marí.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Coastal sandy soils.

Characteristics: A small Umbelleferae found around the beaches of the Balears. Its very divided leaves emerge just above the sand. The inflorescences can also be found prostrate over the sand or slightly elevated upon its peduncle. The entire plant is covered with slightly rigid hairs. The flowers are white or have a reddish tinge, and the fruits are covered with needles. It can be confused with small specimens of Daucus gingidium, but can be told apart as for this later species, the inflorescence radii are very stiff and reach dimensions very distinct from this described Umbelliferae. Flowers during the spring and at the beginning of summer.