Lavandula stoechas L.

Spice In the field Inflorescence Inflorescence 2

Family: LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)

Genus: Lavandula

Catalan common name: Cap d'ase. Tomaní.

Spanish common name: Cantueso.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Aromatic.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte. Nanophanerophyte. Perennial.

Habitats: Tree heather maquis and silicolous garigues. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Pine woodlands and garriques.

Characteristics: An aromatic shrub with whole, greyish leaves. It forms a spiky inflorescence at the top of the branches; the spike has some blue sterile bracts at the top, which are very eye-catching; the very dark violet flowers are tiny and not very eye-catching. This plant generally lives in siliceous soils, but in both Mallorca and Eivissa it can be found in carbonate substrates. It flowers in spring.