Echium arenarium Guss.
Family: BORAGINACEAE
Genus: Echium
Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands.
Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Dragonera.
General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean
IUCN Category: Least concern
Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.
Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Rocky coastlines. Sandy soils and fields.
Characteristics: A small plant covered by rigid hairs that is branched at the base. Flowers are tubular with an intense blue colour with inclusive stamens inside the corolla, an aspect that differentiates thisn species from the rest of the members of the genus. Can be mistaken for E. calycinum , but in this later species the calyx segements are wider (3-6 mm. E. arenarium : 2-3 mm) and the flowers are sky blue in colour.