Sonchus bulbosus (L.) N. Kilian & Greuter subsp. willkommii (Burnat & Barbey) N.Kilian & Greuter

Spice Flowers In the field

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Sonchus

Sinònims: Aetheorhiza bulbosa ( L.) Cass. subsp. willkommii (Burnat & Barbey) Rech. f. Aetheorhiza montana Willk.

Catalan common name: Calabruix. Lleganyova. Pa de porc.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean (Balearic)

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Small shady banks or slopes. Therophytic calicole fields. Shrublands and stony soils.

Characteristics: This is one of the most widespread yet least known of the endemic plants of our fauna; it can be found in open spaces and rocky crevices, always in clay soils. It can be recognised by its leaves which are very small and greatly divided, like a miniature sow thistle, forming mats of very loose leaves. This leaf arrangement is due to the fact that it produces underground stolons, and thus spreads out into nearby terrain. The inflorescence is a capitulum of light yellow flowers. The typical subspecies has much larger, less divided leaves and can generally (but not always) be found in sandy soil. Both subspecies have white, underground tubercles.