Lobularia maritima ( L.) Desv.

Spice Flowers In the field

Family: CRUCIFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)

Genus: Lobularia

Sinònims: Alyssum maritimum (L.) Lam.

Catalan common name: Caps blancs. Morrisà bord. Salivetes del Bon Jesús. Sempreenflor.

Spanish common name: Aliso de mar. Broqueletes de plata o de dama. Mastuerzo marítimo.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Rocky coastlines. Coastal zones and road sides.

Characteristics: An herbaceous species slightly lignified at the base, with linear leaves, its pilosities give it a glacous hue. Develops an inflorescence with many small white flowers that cover the entire aerial portion of the plant. Very characteristic are the mature fruits, as when the release their valves and seeds, on the stem remains some rounded, translucent membranous remnants. The inflorescences elongate in a fashion that the more recent flowers open and fecundate. This plant preferably flowers during the winter, but can also be found in flower in other seasons of the year.