Saponaria officinalis L.

Spice Flowers Inflorescence

Family: CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Genus: Saponaria

Catalan common name: Sabó de gitana. Sabonera. Saboneta. Saponària.

Spanish common name: Albada. Corteza de panamá. Herbada. Hierba de los bataneros. Jabón de palo. Jabonera. Jabonera de la Mancha. Lanaria. Saponaria.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Medicinal. Perfumery.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: River forests. Cultivated species. Humid soils. Gardens.

Characteristics: A perennial and rhizomatous plant grows to 100 cm in height. The leaves are lanceolate, opposite and with well marked parallel nerves. The flowers have a faint scent, are tubular with five white petals; these grow in dense terminal groups. The stamens markedly exceed the length of the flower tube. The fruit is a capsule.