Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl

Spice Photography detail In the field

Family: CYPERACEAE

Genus: Cladium

Catalan common name: Mansega.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte. Hydrophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Marshes.

Characteristics: A plant that lives in delta causeways, with a rhizome rooted beneath the sediment and the leaves and the stems emerging above ?water. Stems have a triangular cross-section, but are distinct from those of the genus Scirpus as they emerge from the stem, not the basal part of the plant. The inflorescence emerges from the stem apex, formed by many ovate and pedicilated brown spicules. Can cover great extensions of the terrain forming single species communities. Flowers at the end of spring and during the summer.