Sherardia arvensis L.

Spice Flower detail In the field

Family: RUBIACEAE

Genus: Sherardia

Catalan common name: Rèbola.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

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

Characteristics: The species belonging to the Rubiaceae family are characteristic for having four or more leaves at each stem node; they have verticiliate leaves. Recognising a rubiacea is, therefore, quite easy. It is more complicated to know which genus or species we have on our hands. But if it is in flower it is very easy to identify Sherardia arvensis, because it is the only Rubiacea with pink flowers to be found in fileds. Besides, the leaflets are lanceolate, and it forms quite large bracts which surround the flowers like a crown, and are even more visible when it bears fruit. It flowers from the month of February to the end of spring.