Acanthus mollis L.

Spice Flowers Leaf In the field

Family: ACANTHACEAE

Genus: Acanthus

Catalan common name: Acant. Ala d'àngel. Carnera. Herba carnera.

Spanish common name: Acanto. Alas de ángel. Hierba giganta.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Garden plants. Gardens and sometimes casual.

Characteristics: A very robust plant with very wide shiny leaves, pinnatipartite with irregularly dentate segments. Forms a cylindrical terminal inflorescence with large and abundant flowers, superior lip is a violet colour while the rest white with spiny bracts.

Observations: A very typical Mediterranean plant with a wide distribution. Its medicinal and ornamental uses have favoured its popularity and consequently its establishment. Not autochthonous to the Balearic Islands, O. de Bolòs considers that it as possibly autochthonous to Valencia.