Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) Ait. f.
Family : ASCLEPIADACEAE
Genus : Gomphocarpus
Catalan common name : Arbre de la seda. Arquell de Siria. Cotoner. Flor de dragó. Mata de la seda. Seder.
Spanish common name : Mata de la seda.
Province distribution : Alicante. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castellón. Gerona. Tarragona. Valencia.
Distribution in the islands : Ibiza. Mallorca.
General distribution : Pantropical
Flowering time : June. July. August.
Life-forms : Nanophanerophyte.
Habitat : Gardens and sometimes subespontaneous.
IUCN Category : Poco preocupante
Characteristics : A shrub which is only woody at the base, it has opposite, lanceolate leaves. The flowers are white with reflex petals, grouped in inflorescences similar to umbels. Its fruit is very characteristic: it is swollen, covered with scarcely rigid small spines. The seeds have a plumule to help with the dispersal. It is a tropical plant which has been naturalized along path-sides and disturbed places. It flowers at the end of spring and in summer.
Status : Alien species.
