Tropaeolum majus L.

Spice Detail In the field

Family: TROPAEOLACEAE

Genus: Tropaeolum

Catalan common name: Bequera. Caputxina. Llaguera. Morrissà. Morritort d'indies.

Spanish common name: Capuchinas.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Neotropical

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Garden plants. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Gardens and sometimes naturalizated.

Characteristics: Climbing plant that can form impressive carpet-like growths in sunny torrent banks and beds. Its leaves and flowers can easily distinguish it. The rounded leaf lamina can reach up to 15 cm in diameter, with the petiole attached at the centre of the leaf. Both are green in colour although a bit yellowish. The flowers are orange in colour, which sharply outlines it from the surrounding green pastureland. With these floral characters, it is certain that it does not belong to our flora, and it is an invasive species that originates from America. Flowers form spring to the beginning of summer.