Lythrum junceum Banks & Sol.

Spice Flower Flower 2 In the field

Family: LYTHRACEAE

Genus: Lythrum

Catalan common name: Blavet.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Humid soils and torrents.

Characteristics: A herb in moist places along pond-sides and torrents (dry river beds); it has prostrate branches on the ground; it has bright green lanceolate, linear leaves. The flowers appear in spike-shaped inflorescences but with the flowers coming out of the axils of the leaves, they have violet petals; the calyces are very long, they have tips which are as long as the teeth. The other species of Lythrum in the Balearics are smaller and annual, whereas the species we are talking about is perennial. It flowers from the end of spring to autumn.