Matthiola sinuata (L.) R. Br.

Spice Flowers In the field Rosete of leaves

Family: CRUCIFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)

Genus: Matthiola

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Beaches.

Characteristics: A plant easy to identify: by its colour, ash green for the entire plant; flowers with four petals in the form of a cross and a soft violet colour, fruits elongate and compressed; and the leaves, some of them very divided with a slightly ondulate contorn. Can be distinguished by the lack of "horns" located at the terminal par of the fruit (although there may be two small protuberances) and from the species M. incana as this later species has a fruit that is covered with small "pendunculate" glands.