Reseda phyteuma L.

Spice

Family: RESEDACEAE

Genus: Reseda

Catalan common name: Pebrots de suc.

Spanish common name: Farolilla. Gualdilla. Gualdón. Marduxi. Reseda silvestre. Sesamoide menor. Sosieganiño.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Uncultivated fields and road sides.

Characteristics: A small annual that lives in dry fields. Leaves are entire or divided at the upper portion into three lobes. Flowers have very divided petals, white in colour, this characteristic distinguishes it another small sized species of this genus. On the other hand, Reseda alba, which also has white flowers, is much larger and has very fully divided leaves. The fruit is in the form of a hanging capsule that opens forming a three-toothed structure. Can flower almost throughout the year, but especially in spring.