Ballota hirsuta Benth.

Spice Calyx detail Detail Flower In the field

Family: LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)

Genus: Ballota

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Rocky coastlines. Fields and road sides. Coastal areas.

Characteristics: A perennial plant that is large in size on the whole, covered with hairs that give the plant an ashy green colour that is very characteristic of this species. Leaves are opposite and heart shaped. Flowers are grouped in dense whorls; the calyx has ten teeth or more, instead of the characteristic 5 of Ballota nigra.