Valerianella microcarpa Lovel.

Spice In the field

Family: VALERIANACEAE

Genus: Valerianella

Catalan common name: Lletugueta.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Tarragona.

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic communities.

Characteristics: A small annual plant leaves oblong and entire. Flowers are small and pink in colour, arranged dichotomously in terminal glomerules that are very characteristic to this plant. The valerians differ from one another mainly in fruit morphology. The fructifying calyx is in the form of a small tongue with small protuberances. The bracts surpass the fruits. Can be differentiated from V. dentata as it is smaller, glabrescent and with more compact glomerules.