Osyris lanceolata Hochst. & Steud.

Spice Flower detail In the field

Family: SANTALACEAE

Genus: Osyris

Sinònims: Osyris quadripartita Salzm.

Catalan common name: Arraià. Ginestó valencià.

Spanish common name: Bayón.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Rock crevices and cliff faces. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Garriques and cliff faces.

Characteristics: A bush that generally reaches about two metres in height, even reaching larger heights, has not very large, lanceolate leaves, about a centimetre in width with the nerves not very well marked. The entire plant has a greyish colour. The flowers are small, unisexual and yellow in colour. This species is found in the garrigues of Eivissa, and Mallorca as well, but for the latter location it is quite rare. It is impossible to confuse it with Osyris alba as the bush as well as the leaves are much larger. If not careful you can confuse it with perhaps any other sclerophillic bush. Flowers at the beginning of spring.