Asparagus albus Asparagus

Esparraguera blanca

Wild Asparagus is common in the area in September flowering profusely and with a lovely scent.

It grows to about 1 metre tall. It is native to western southern Europe and north Africa. In the winter/spring there will be new shoots sprouting from the ground, which are delicious to eat. It has 

red berries in the winter/spring.

 Juglans regia Walnut tree

Photo from Sierra de las Nieves. The walnut was originally thought to originate from Iran but some scientists believe it also originates from southern Europe as well as China and the Himalaya.

It can grow to a height of 25-35m and flowers from April to July. The photo of the nuts was taken in July.

Pistorinia breviflora

It's very rare these days for me to find a new plant in our local areas, but perhaps I am not looking hard enough. I found a few specimens of these pretty little annual succulents yesterday at Grazalema. It grows from 6-14 cms tall and is native to Morocco and SW Spain. I believe that it is on the Red List for endangered plants in Andalucía.

 Sternbergia lutea Autumn Crocus

Azucena amarilla

This cultivated beauty has been found in the wild in parts of Andalucía where it has naturalised. It flowers from October to December and grows from 5-10cm tall. It is found naturalised at 300-1,000m.

Orobanche muteli

 Orobanche muteli Broomrape

Jopo

One of the many species of Broomrape growing wild here. Fortunately as it's a parasitic plant it wasn't growing near any crops.  It flowers from March to August, and grows from 10cm to 25 cms tall.

 Himantoglossum robertianum Giant orchid

This beautiful early orchid flowers from January to April and is a native of the Mediterranean basin. It can grow tall to a height of 50cms. I learned today that the bulb is edible  which is probably why the wild boar love it so much.  It can be found up to an altitude of 1,700m.

Glossopappus macrotus

 Glossopappus macrotus

This pretty yellow daisy like flower is native to the Mediterranean and flowers from April to July. It grows from 20-60cm tall. It is one of many similar plants in southern Spain.

Crepis albida

Crepis albida

This species I found at Sierra de las Nieves, it can grow 20-30cms tall and lives among rocks and stones. It is native to the Iberian Peninsula, France and Italy.

Autumn crocus 1.10.2019

Colchicum lustianum starting to flower. 1.10.2019

Crocus serotinus starting to flower too in the Serranía de Ronda

Glaucium corniculatum

Glaucium corniculatum Blackspot horn poppy

Glaucio

This Horned Poppy is usually red, but the yellow was a rare find by my husband near to Osuna,  southwest Spain. It is an annual and the leaves and stem are hairy. It can grow 24-40cms tall and is native to southern Europe. It flowers from April to June.

Ophrys lupercalis

Ophrys lupercalis Lupercales Bee orchid

This orchid was photographed in March at Montejaque, southern Spain. It is sometimes called Ophrys fusca ssp lupercalis and some Botanists argue that is is simply a variation of Ophrys fusca. It is present all over the Mediterranean basin. If flowers from February to March.

Echinops spinosissimus

Echinops spinosissimus Spiny Globe thistle

This Echinops was not found in Andalusia,  in fact it is native to eastern Europe, north Africa and SW to Asia. This one we found in the Atlas mountains of Morocco. It can grow to 2 ft (80cms) tall and spreads to 3ft. As it's name suggests it is very thorny and flowers late summer/autumn. I thought it was worth including on here.

Linaria vulgaris

Linaria vulgaris Common Toadflax

This common plant is native to Europe, north Asia, west to China and east to Siberia. It has now been introduced to North America. It can grow to an height of 35ins (90mm) and flowers in the spring/summer, depending on it's habitat.

Legousia falcata

Legousia falcata 

This is a new plant for me, found in the Grazalema area in June. I can find very little information on it. It grows from 15-50cms tall and flowers from April to June. Apologies for the poor photograph of the leaves.

Ricinus communis

Ricinus communis Castor oil plant

Ricino

This attractive plant can grow as high as 5 metres tall. It was native to SE Mediterranean,  East Africa and India but has now naturalised in many warm climates. It had largish, glossy green leaves, often tinged red and flowers from April to September. It can cause severe allergies, especially Asthma and also allergic reactions to anyone allergic to Ricinus could develop skin rashes. The fruit, bean-like structures are highly poisonous and could cause death in large quantities. Castor oil is a lubricant for motors.

Parentucellia latifolius

Parentucellia latifolius  Red Bartsia

Algarabía

This small plant is native to Europe, but has now been introduced to other continents. It flowers from April to June and can grow from 5-20cms tall. The leaves are very hairy. I can't fins any references to it being a parasitic plant.

Cydonia oblonga

Cydonia oblonga  Quince

Membrillo

This 2-4 metre tall shrub originated in SW Asia, Turkey and north Iran to Afghanistan, but is now naturalised in Spain.  The large Quince fruits are very popular in cooking, making jams, and lots of other different foodstuffs including desserts. It is cultivated in many countries. It flowers from March to May. It is hardy and drought tolerant but needs hot summers to ripen the fruit.

Linaria viscosa

Linaria viscosa Toadflax

This pretty Toadflax is endemic to the SW of Spain. It was found at El Rocio, Huelva province, on 2.4.2018. It can grow to an height of 60cms and prefers sandy, dry soil. It flowers from April to June. There is some discussion going on about this Linaria, so I can't be 100% sure it is the correct name.

Ornithopus sativus ssp isthmorcarpus

Ornithopus sativus ssp isthmorcarpus Common Bird's foot

This pretty little plant spreads from 10-60cms along the ground on sandy soil. It is native to southern Iberia and north Africa. It flowers from March to April. Photographed at El Rocio, province of Huelva, Doñana.

Corrigiola litoralis

Corrigiola litoralis Strapwort

A new species for me found in El Rocio, Coto de Doñana, and it is native to Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa. It has been introduced to Australia and north America. This delicate little plant spreads from 10-30cm and flowers from March to June, on the edges of water.