Asterolinon linum-stellatum (L.) Duby

Spice In the field In the field 2

Family: PRIMULACEAE

Genus: Asterolinon

Catalan common name: Lli estel·lat.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytics communities.

Characteristics: It is a tiny, annual cycle plant, but very frequent in small terophitic meadows (rich in annual plants). It is light green, and often branches just above the base; the leaves are lanceolate and very sharp. It flowers during the winter; it produces small flowers in the axils of the leaves, with very pointed sepals which open forming the image of a star. It bears fruit early, producing a small spherical capsule.