Rubia balearica (Willk.) Porta subsp. balearica

Family: RUBIACEAE

Genus: Rubia

Sinònims: Rubia angustifolia L. subsp. angustifolia

Catalan common name: Raspeta. Rotgeta.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza. Cabrera. Dragonera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean (Balearic)

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Oakforest. Xero-acanthic shrubs of the mountanous regions, and steppe-grasslands of Ampelodesmos mauritanica. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Rocky surfaces and dry stone walls. Holm oak forest. Walls and rock creviceses.

Characteristics: Leaves are linear, reunited in groups of four, greyish in colour and always growing along the ground, all of these characters distinguish it from Rubia peregrina, which has leaves much wider and greener, with whorls usually with five or more leaves that climb through other plants. Subspecies caespitosa is exclusive to Cabrera. Flowering during May and June.