Cytinus hypocistis (L.) L. subsp. macranthus Wettst.

Family: RAFFLESIACEAE

Genus: Cytinus

Catalan common name: Filosa. Frare d'estepa. Gerreta de mel. Margalida. Rabassot.

Spanish common name: Chupamieles. Chuperas. Granadilla. Hipocistide. Perlas. Pinitas.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Garriques. Parasite of Cistus with white flowers.

Characteristics: This is a parasitic plant in arid land. It lives underground stuck to the roots of the host. But we can see it when it flowers and the flowers come out in order to be pollinated. These flowers always appear, therefore, at the edge of arid land. It has reddish leaves like scales and the floral pieces are yellow. Cytinus hypocistis can be differentiated from Cytinus ruber because the floral pieces of the latter are white and the leaves are bright red. Flowers in spring.