Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth
Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)
Genus: Reichardia
Sinònims: Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth subsp. picroides
Catalan common name: Cascunia. Cosconilla.
Spanish common name: Cosconilla. Lechuguilla dulce.
Province distribution: Balearic Islands.
Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.
Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs.
IUCN Category: Least concern
Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.
Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Rocky surfaces and dry stone walls. Herbaceous communities, fields and forests.
Characteristics: A herb belonging to the Compositae family, with the typical yellow capitulum which is common to so many Mediterranean species. It lives along path-sides, fields and wasteland, usually coexisting with other yellow Compositae. It is easily recognisable looking at the shape of the bracts of the capitulum, which look small downward-facing hearts with a membranous margin. These bracts are also found on the floral leaf-stalk. The leaves can be a bit fleshy, with a slightly white, lobulate margin. It is a perennial herb, therefore it has a thick trunk which is difficult to uproot; this is an important feature to distinguish the typical subspecies, from the subsp. intermedia , which is annual. It flowers at any time of the year.