Naufraga balearica Constance & Cannon

Spice Flower In the field

Family: UMBELLIFERAE (APIACEAE)

Genus: Naufraga

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

Plants protected by law: Bern Convention. National Catalogue. Habitat Directive.

IUCN Category: ENEndangered

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Rock crevices and cliff faces. Small shady banks or slopes. Shady slopes near the sea.

Characteristics: This species is the only one described under the genus Naufraga; it is a small herb of composite leaves and more or less oval or triangular leaflets. The stemleaves have stipules, a strange feature in the Umbelliferae family. It forms small umbels without bracts on capillary leaf-stalks. It forms delicate carpets in moist, shady soils in some places in the Serra de Tramuntana. Although it was found on the Island of Corsica (a more and more questionable quotation) it is considered an endemism of Mallorca which is threatened with extinction because of the small dimension of its area of distribution. Flowers since May to August.