Valerianella discoidea (L.) Loisel.

Spice Flower In the field

Family: VALERIANACEAE

Genus: Valerianella

Spanish common name: Canonigos de flor rosa.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Therophytic calicole fields. Garriques and fields. Therophytic communities.

Characteristics: Small annual herbaceous plant of wastelands and dry pastures. It dichotomous branching pattern is very characteristic. Leaves are elongate and slightly dentate. The inflorescence also follows the dichotomous structure of the plant. It can be differentiated from other Valerianella species as it is slightly larger, and above all, its fruits that are in form of a corona that involves the upper portion, and is formed by spiny floral emergences that point outwards. The flowers are very small and pink in colour. Flowers in spring.