Helichrysum fontanesii Cambess.

Spice In the field Inflorescence

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Helichrysum

Sinònims: Helichrysum rupestre (Rafin.) DC.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Rock crevices and cliff faces. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Rock creviceses.

Characteristics: In the rocky parts of the mountains in Mallorca we can find this Helichrysum which is characterised by its long, linear leaves; it does not give off an aroma like Helichrysum stoechas, and has broad inflorescences with capitula of yellow flowers and membranous bracts. These Mallorcan populations have been recognised as an endemic variety cambessedesii, which requires further study. In Eivissa, another variety of the same species can be found, latifolium, with much broader leaves than the typical forms.