Helianthemum origanifolium (Lam.) Pers. subsp. serrae (Cambess.) Guinea & Heywood

Spice Flower detail In the field

Family: CISTACEAE

Genus: Helianthemum

Sinònims: Helianthemum origanifolium (Lam.) Pers. subsp. origanifolium Helianthemum origanifolium (Lam.) Pers. var. glabratum Willk. Helianthemum marifolium (L.) Mill. subsp. origanifolium (Lam.) López

Catalan common name: Setge.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

Plants protected by law: Balearic Catalogue.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Garriques and sandy soils.

Characteristics: A small shrub, which does not reach more than a hand-span above ground level, very woody with small, oval, dark green leaves. Its flowers are yellow, which is typical in Cistaceae, with five identical petals which fall easily, and many stamens. It lives on the South coast of the Pitiüses (Eivissa and Formentera), and in a region of Mallorca which has practically been destroyed by urbanization. It flowers in spring.