Arabis verna (L.) R. Br.

Spice Flower Fruit

Family: CRUCIFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)

Genus: Arabis

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Rock crevices and cliff faces. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytics communities and cliff faces.

Characteristics: A small erect annual, although it does have a basal leaf rosette; leaves are wide, toothed and hirsute. The inflorescence emerges upright with violet-blue flowers. Can be distinguished from Arabis collina because this latter species is perennial, has white flowers and its fruits are very closley attached to the stem. Flowers during the first half of spring.