Damasonium bourgaei Coss.

Spice Detail Fruit detail In the field

Family: ALISMATACEAE

Genus: Damasonium

Sinònims: Damasonium alisma Mill. subsp. bourgaei (Coss.) Maire

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

Plants protected by law: Bern Convention. National Catalogue. Habitat Directive.

IUCN Category: VUVulnerable

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hydrophyte. Terophyte.

Habitats: Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Ponds.

Characteristics: This species lives in seasonal pools in the dry areas of Mallorca. It is an aquatic plant that lives rooted in the sediment and from which the leaves sprout. The leaves have a large petiole that allows the foliage to reach the water surface, the leaves floating on top, they being elongate ovate (the base is wider). The inflorescences are above water in the form of an umbel or various superimposed umbels with flowers with three white or pink petals. The fruit, which is very characteristic, is in the form of a rigid star. It is hard to confuse this species with another, as only Potamogeton coloratus has a similar appearance, although it lives in a very different habitat and the inflorescence is in the form of a spicule without any petals apparent. Flowers from April to May.