Cyperus capitatus Vandelli

Spice Flower

Family: CYPERACEAE

Genus: Cyperus

Sinònims: Cyperus kalli (Forsk.) Murbeck.

Catalan common name: Mansega marina.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Dunes.

Characteristics: This species only lives on beaches and coastal dunes. In the Balearic Islands it is not at all frequent. It develops a compact inflorescence, with large spikelets of 2 cm in length and 3-4 mm wide; at the base of the inflorescence, there are several bracteal leaves which widely exceed the flowers and which give it a very characteristic appearance. The flowers are flat and thick. This species, like many others on the beaches, has underground rhizomes which allow it to colonize the dune system. The whole plant, apart from the flowers, has a whitish green colour.