Bombycilaena discolor (Pers.) Laínz

Spice In the field

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Bombycilaena

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Lleida. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Xero-acanthic shrubs of the mountanous regions, and steppe-grasslands of Ampelodesmos mauritanica. Therophytic calicole fields. Stony soils.

Characteristics: A small annual plant that is completely covered with hairs, these give it a woolly appearance. The leaves are elongated, up to a centimetre in length. The flowers are covered with bracts forming structures that look like small woolly balls. Can be confused with other species of the Filago genus, but can be distinguished by the form of the capitulum, as we have described, and are unmistakable. Lives in the clearings of garrigues, especially in the mountains. Flowers at the end of spring.