Daphne rodriguezii Teixidor

Family: THYMELAEACEAE

Genus: Daphne

Catalan common name: Dafne menorquí.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

Plants protected by law: Bern Convention. National Catalogue. Habitat Directive.

IUCN Category: VUVulnerable

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Rocky coastlines. Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Windy coastal areas.

Characteristics: This is one of the endemisms that is in danger of extinction in the Balearics, in fact it only lives on the island of Menorca. It is not at all easy to find or recognise by someone without a good knowledge of botany as it goes easily unnoticed, always hidden under other bushes. It can be distinguished by its irregularly shaped leaves which are very shiny on their upper side. The whole plant does not usually grow more than a metre. It forms small, white flowers which become red berries later on.