Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm.

Spice Fruit In the field

Family: CRUCIFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)

Genus: Coronopus

Catalan common name: Cervina menuda.

Spanish common name: Mastuerzo de Indias.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

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

Characteristics: A typical herb found in trodden places, it can often be found between paving stones or in places with livestock. It always lives with its leaves and branches on the ground. It has leaves divided into irregular lobules. The flowers are very small, usually without petals or shorter than 0.5 mm, they group themselves in racemes. The fruits are very characteristic because they are made up of two symmetrical pieces that are more or less smooth. It is very similar to Coronopus squamatus, which lives in the same places; it can be recognised because this species has well developed petals, of up to 2 mm. and a very rough fruit. Coronopus didymus is a plant introduced from the South of America. It flowers at the end of winter and in spring.