Aphyllanthes monspeliensis L.

Spice Flower In the field

Family: LILIACEAE

Genus: Aphyllanthes

Catalan common name: Jonça.

Spanish common name: Chunqueta. Chunza. Junquillo azul.

Province distribution: Alacant. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. València.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal. Symbolic uses.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue.

Characteristics: Thickets, garriques, dry meadows, rocky places' In sunny places and calcareous soil. A rhizomatous plant that makes large tufts. The stems are junciforme and the leaves are reduced to scarious sheaths. Presents 1-3 terminal bluish flowers, grouped in a dense glomerule.