Kickxia commutata (Bernh.) Fritsch

Spice Detail In the field

Family: SCROPHULARIACEAE

Genus: Kickxia

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Castelló. Girona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

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

Characteristics: A perennial plant whose stems grow prostrate along the ground, also rooted in the substrate, with very pilose leaves with a halberd or arrow shaped base. Has large bilabiate flowers with closed labellum with a spur, the superior labellum is violet coloured while the inferior is yellow. There are similar species that occupy the same habitats; each one must be determined with a classification key. Kickxia elatine is very similar but annual and the stems do not produce root; Kickxia spuria and Kickxia lanigera are also annuals and have oval or rounded non-halberdier leaves. Flowers at the end of spring and at the beginning of summer.