Anthyllis hystrix (Willk.) Cardona, Contandriopoulos & Sierra

Spice Flower In the field

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Anthyllis

Catalan common name: Socarrell gros.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean (Balearic)

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

IUCN Category: NTNear threatened

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Rocky coastlines. Rocky coastal areas.

Characteristics: A bush that grows in the form of a compact shrub, although not spiny, can reach to a metre in height. Leaves are lanceolate, small, and isolated. Flowers are yellow in colour When not in flower, can be confused with Dorycnium fulgurans, which has a similar form and lies in the same habitats, although this later species has spatulate leaves, united in tufts.

Observations: An endemism exclusive to the Menorcan littoral. The cushion shape that it takes on is thought to be due to the strong Northerly winds that predominate in the island and herbivory.