Torilis nodosa (L.) Gaertn.

Spice Flower - fruit detail

Family: UMBELLIFERAE (APIACEAE)

Genus: Torilis

Catalan common name: Catxurros.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Fields and road sides.

Characteristics: An annual Umbelliferae with very divided leaves, like the majority of the rest of the family. Stems (grow up to 50 cm.) are mainly branched from the base and are hispid, with hairs pointed towards the base. The umbels are mainly lateral and opposite the leaves, with three very short and discrete radii. Flowers can be white or pink in colour. The fruits are surrounded by many gloquid spiny appendages (with unicellular hairs with small spiny appendages folded back over the same appendage and not arranged in files.