Thursday 31 October 2013

Sinapsis arvensis

Sinapsis arvensis Field or Wild mustard

Mostaza silvestre
It is a native of the Mediterranean basin and grows to a height of 20-60cms from April to October.

Biscutella frutescens

Biscutella frutescens

This plant is native to southern Spain and north Africa and grows out of rocks and crevices. It grows at an altitude of 400-1400 metres and it can grow from 30-60cms tall. It flowers from March to July.

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Campanula rapunculus

Campanula rapunculus Rampion bellflower

Raponchigo
This Campanula flowers from May to July and can grow from 30-100cms. It is native to Europe.

Campanula mollis

Campanula mollis

Campanilla de roca
Synonym: Campanula velutina

This plant grows out of rocks and crevices south of the Iberian peninsula and north Africa.
It flowers from May to July and can grow to a height of 10cm and a spread of 40cms.

Campanula lusitanica ssp lusitanica





Campanula lusitanica ssp. lusitanica

This lovely Campanula is native to the Mediterranean and MW Africa. The stems can grow to 35cms tall with alternate leaves. It is found in forest clearings and other open areas.
I hope that I have identified it correctly.


Echium plantagineum

Echium plantagineum  Bugloss

Viborera

This is a white form of the blue bugloss and flowers from February to July. It is very common in Europe, including southern UK. It grows from 25-50cms.

Lobularia maritima

Lobularia maritima Sweet Alyssum or Alison

Mastuerzo maritimo
Synonym: Alyssum maritimum
This pretty Alyssum, with hairy leaves, flowers in crevices and scree from November to June. It is native to the Mediterranean, Canaries and the Azores. It grows from 5-30cm tall and spread.

Alyssum simplex

Alyssum simplex

This yellow Alyssum flowers from March to June and grows from 10-15cms. It is native to the Mediterranean, Eurasia and north Africa.
  

Monday 28 October 2013

Anchusa granatensis

Anchusa granatensis Wavy-leaved anchusa

Chupamieles
Synonym: Anchusa undulata ssp granatensis
This plant is native to the Mediterranean at anywhere between 200-1.700 metres. It can grow from 15-60cms and supposedly flowers from April to June, but this photograph was taken in late February in central Andalucia.



Sunday 27 October 2013

Leucanthemum paludosum

Leucanthemum paludosum

This plant flowers from the winter until May in the western Mediterranean and Morocco. It grows from 5-15cms.

Saturday 26 October 2013

Carlina gummifera

Carlina gummifera Stemless atractylis

Cardo ajonjero

Synonym: Atractylis gummifera
This highly toxic plant flowers from August to November. The juice of the rhizomes can cause Hepatitis and fatal liver failure, especially in young children. It is native to the Mediterranean and north Africa.  Photograph taken in Tarifa area.





Anacyclus clavatus


Anacyclus clavatus White buttons

Botoncillo
This lovely daisy is native to southern Europe and northern Africa and flowers from March to June. It grows from 10-40cms tall.

Thursday 24 October 2013

Carthamus lanatus

Carthamus lanatus Saffron thistle

Azotacristos
This yellow thistle was originally a native of the Mediterranean. It has now become a noxious weed where it has been introduced to USA and Australia. It grows from 30-100cms and flowers from April to August.

Carthamus caeruleus ssp caeruleus


Carthamus caeruleus ssp caeruleus

Cardo azul
Symonymn Carduncellus caeruleus ssp caeruleus
This blue thistle seems to be present around the Mediterranean. It grows from 20-80cms tall and flowers from April to June.

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Tragopogon porrifolius

Tragopogon porrifolius  Common Salsify

Salsifi
This biennial Salsify can be found in the Mediterranean regions of Europe. It can grow from 20-120cms tall and flowers from April to June. The new shoots and the roots can be eaten as a vegetable and the flowers used in salads.

Tragopogon hybridus

Tragopogon hybridus Goatsbeard

This plant flowers from April to June and only blooms for a few hours around midday. It grows from 20-40cms  and is native to the Mediterranean countries, Middle East and North Africa.


Tuesday 22 October 2013

Chondrilla juncea

Chondrilla juncea Devil's grass

Achicoria dulce
This plant was originally native to Europe, Asia and north Africa. Now it is known worldwide as a noxious weed. The Spanish name translates as Sweet Chicory, and some people have mistaken it for Chicory. It can grow from 40-120cms and flowers from July to October.

Lactuca tenerrima

Lactuca tenerrima Blue lettuce

Lechuguilla azul
This plant is native to SW Europe and NW Morocco. It grows to a height of 50cms and flowers from May to September. It is found at between 500-900 metres.


Monday 21 October 2013

Jurinea pinnata



Jurinea pinnata

Escobilla
 This plant grows in central and southern Spain above an altitude of 850 metres. The plant grows from 5-20cms tall  on calcareous soils. I found an article saying that it only grows on Dolomite or Gypsum soils. It flowersin June and July. This photograph was taken at Sierra de las Nieves. It is a rare species also found in Grazalema.

Echinops strigosus

Echinops strigosus Globe thistle

Cardo yesquero
This thistle flowers from April to September anywhere up to an altitude of 1,600 metres, and can grow up to 60cms tall. It is native to southern Iberia and NW Africa.


Sunday 20 October 2013

Abies pinsapo


Abies pinsapo  Spanish or Hedgehog fir 

Pinsapo

This severely threatened tree is only found in southern Spain and the Rif mountains of Morocco. It is found at between 900m-1,700m in Sierra de las Nieves, Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra Bermeja. In the Rif mountains it is found up to 2.100m altitude. It flowers from April to June and can grow from 20-30 metres tall. It was almost wiped out completely by glacial ice during the Ice Age. Only a few trees remained and now they are protected and cultivated in National Parks. Fire is a great risk to them.

It is on the Red List of Threatened Plants.


Asphodelus aestivus

Asphodelus aestivus Common asphodel

Synonymns: A. ramosus
A. microcarpus

This majestic plant can start blooming in December and continue flowering for several months. It looks wonderful covering banks and hillsides with hundreds of plants. It can grow from 50-150cms and is native to southern Europe. 


Tyrimnus leucographus


Tyrimnus leucographus

This plant flowers from April to July and grows to a height of 30-80cms. I found this specimen at Montejaque, near Ronda growing at a height of approx. 800 metres. It is native to southern Europe and SW Asia. It was previously called Carduus leucographus.

Saturday 19 October 2013

Pistacia terebinthus


Pistacia terebinthus Turpentine tree or Terebinth

Terebinto
This deciduous large shrub or tree can grow as high as 10 metres and has a strong smell of resin. It is a Dioecious tree, having both male and female flowers and berries in the autumn. I really must improve on this photograph as it is not very good. It flowers from March to May and is native to the Mediterranean.

Pistacia lentiscus

Pistacia lentiscus Lentisc or Mastic tree

Lentisco
This evergreen shrub or tree is native to the whole of the Mediterranean countries, and can grow up to 4 metres tall. It is a Dioecious tree, having both male and female flowers. It has a strong smell of resin, which is collected in some countries, especially Greece. It offers protection and food when it berries in the autumn for many birds. It flowers from February to April.

Friday 18 October 2013

Calendula arvensis ssp arvensis

Calendula arvensis ssp arvensis Field marigold

Flamenquilla
This wonderful marigold can be in flower the whole year on verges and under trees in orchards. The only months you may not see it is late summer if there has been no rain. It grows no more than 15cms tall usually. It is native to central and southern Europe.
This lovely Field marigold is starting to flower again now in late November after 2 recent showers.


Asteriscus maritimus

Asteriscus maritimus Sea daisy

Margarita de mar
This lovely daisy grows in rocky, scree areas up to 500 metres and is native to the Canaries, Greece and coastal, southern Iberia. It flowers from January to August and can spread to 45cms but is low growing generally.

Thursday 17 October 2013

Achillea odorata

Achillea odorata Yarrow

Milenrama
This plant flowers in June and July and is native to the west Mediterranean countries and Morocco. It can grow from 10-25cms.

Ornithogalum orthophyllum ssp baeticum


Ornithogalum orthophyllum ssp baeticum Star of Bethlehem

Leche de pájaro
This beautiful brilliant white plant grows from 8-15cms and flowers from April to June.



Wednesday 16 October 2013

Aristolochia baetica

Aristolochia baetica Andalusian Dutchman's pipe

This poisonous vine (a Birthwort) produces these magnificent "pipes" from November to May and can grow up to 4 metres. It is native to the south of the Iberian peninsula and north Africa.



Arisarum simorrhinum

Arisarum simorrhinum Friar's cowl

Candilejos
This usually low growing plant can be found from November to May, and it can grow stalks up to 30cms in certain places. Most parts are poisonous. Previous name was Arisarum vulgare ssp simorrhinum.
It can be found on the Iberian peninsula, south France and north west Africa.

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Vinca difformis


Vinca difformis  Intermediate Periwinkle

Alcandorea
This plant is usually mauve and is native to western Europe. It scrambles over banks forming large swathes flowering from January to June.




Chaenorhinum villosum ssp villosum

Chaenorhinum villosum ssp villosum Cliffhanger

Espuelilla

This beautiful rock plant flowers from March to July and grows in limestone crevices in southern Spain and north-west Africa. It grows from 10-20cms.