Carrichtera annua (L.) DC.

Spice Flower In the field

Family: CRUCIFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)

Genus: Carrichtera

Catalan common name: Pitanet.

Spanish common name: Cucharilla. Mastuerzo valenciano. Pítano anual.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

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 herb which grows erectly, it does not reach more than 40 cm in height. It has deeply divided leaves forming almost linear lobules. Its flowers are small, pale yellow, with four petals like all the Cruciferae. Its fruit is very characteristic because it has a spherical part covered with hairs which is only a few millimetres in diameter, but it has a foliaceous growth with a small spoon shape. It grows in fields and places which are a little disturbed. It flowers at the end of spring.