Polygala monspeliaca L.
Family: POLYGALACEAE
Genus: Polygala
Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona.
Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.
General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean
IUCN Category: Least concern
Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Life-forms: Terophyte.
Habitats: Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Therophytic calicole fields. Pine woodlands and garriques.Therophytic communities.
Characteristics: A small annual cycle herb, it grows erectly in the clearings in the driest garrigues (Mediterranean woodland). It has quite delicate, lanceolate leaves, at the bottom of the plant, the inflorescences occupy the top of the plant, and is often the most visible part of the plant. They are racemes of hanging flowers, with a calyx made up of two pieces in the shape of wings covering the petals which are much smaller. It flowers in spring.