Polygonum equisetiforme Sm.

Spice Flowers

Family: POLYGONACEAE

Genus: Polygonum

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: ENEndangered

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitat: Salty soils near the coast.

Characteristics: A perennial plant which branches out from the base forming long branches that stretch out along the ground; the leaves are lanceolate, and have a membranous scale that surrounds the stem (ochrea). The inflorescences are made up of very long spikes of flowers, the leaves of the spikes are much smaller than the stem ones. It is not easy to distinguish from other Polygonum of the same group. The distinguishing features are: the presence of a more or less woody trunk (Polygonum aviculare is annual) and the clear difference between the leaves of the inflorescence and the stem ones: in Polygonum romanum they are similar.