Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Otanthus maritimus ( L.) Hoffms. et Link
Family : COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)
Genus : Otanthus
Catalan common name : Herba de Bona. Herba de renegat.
Spanish common name : Algodonosa.
Province distribution : Balearic Islands. Tarragona. Valencia.
Distribution in the islands : Formentera. Ibiza. Mallorca. Minorca.
General distribution : Some regions
Flowering time : July. August. September.
Life-forms : Chameophyte.
Habitat : Dune systems.
Uses and properties : Medicinal.
Plants protected by law : Balearic Catalogue.
IUCN Category : En peligro
Characteristics : A small shrub with stems and leaves covered with a pilosity that gives it an almost white colour. It has whole, oblong leaves (an exception in compositae); it forms yellow capitula, the inflorescences form a kind of false umbel (corymb). It lives on beaches, but it has become very rare; it is only easy to find in Formentera because massive repopulation has been carried out. It flowers during summer.
