Polygonum bellardii All.

Spice

Family: POLYGONACEAE

Genus: Polygonum

Sinònims: Polygonum aviculare L. subsp. bellardii (All.) O. Bolòs et Vigo

Catalan common name: Herba de cent nuus.

Spanish common name: Centinodia. Hierba del mal año. Polígono. Sanguinaria.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitat: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones.

Characteristics: Small herbaceous plant with prostrate stems (up to 70 cm.) and branched from the base with a more or less radial growth pattern. Leaves are alternate, elliptic-lanceolate that narrow from the base to the apex. The flowers are in axillary bunches of 1 to 4 whitish flowers. The ocrea (the tubular sheath at the base of the petiole) is transparent and very divided (laciniate).

Observations: The vegetative characteristics are greatly variable, and an example in fructification is indispensable for correct identification.