Vicia vicioides

Vicia vicioides Pink vetch

This pretty vetch is native to south of the Iberian peninsula and NW Africa. It has a spread of up to 2 metres, and grows to a height of approx. 20cms. It is found at 300~1,200m altitude and flowers from March to June.

Muscari comosum

Muscari comosum White tassel hyacinth

Gutarrillo

I found this white form of the Tassel hyacinth yesterday. Rather nice to see among the normal blues. it flowers from April to June and can grow from 10~40cms tall. It is native to the Mediterranean as far east as Iran. The bulb is edible and eaten in some countries.

Limodorum abortivum

Limodorum abortivum Violet Limodore

This Limodore is native to eastern Europe, west Asia and the Mediterranean. It grows from 20~85cms tall in open woodlands.It is a herbaceous rhizomatous plant, containing 10~20 flowers. The leaves are reduced to scales. It seeds freely and the seeds remain below ground for 8~10 years before flowering. They flower from April to June.

Fumana thymifolia

Fumana thymifolia Thyme leaved Rockrose

Jara tomillo

This small sub sbrub grows in poor stony ground in full sun and flowers from March to June. It grows from 30~50cms tall and is native to the Mediterranean. The leaves can be used in cooking and act as a diuretic.

Sanguisorba minor

Sanguisorba minor Salad burnet

Pimpinala menor

This lovely little plant is native to much of western and southern Europe, north Africa and SW Asia. It flowers from March to September and grows from 10~50cms tall. It's leaves can be used in salads and dressings and used to be used in the relief of diarrhoea.

Ophrys speculum ssp speculum

Ophrys speculum ssp speculum Mirror speculum

Orquídea espejo

The top photograph was taken today, and the lower photo shows how it should  look. It is not very common to find one without the blue colour pigment, but there are a few populations of the rarer one around. It grows from 5~30cms tall and flowers from February to May. It is native to south of the Iberian peninsula.

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Zantedeschia aethiopica Lords and Ladies

Cala

This beautiful plant is appearing in our garden and in the countryside around us. It can be invasive in places. It is native to North and South Africa and the Middle East. It grows from 30~60cms tall and will eventually produce showy red berries. It is an herbaceous perennial and flowers in April and May.

Scrophularia sambucifolia

Scrophularia sambucifolia

This is a wonderfully named plant, and I found this variegated form standing next to it's normal green form last week. It grows from 50cm to 1m and is found in dampish places usually, though this was on a dry bank. It is endemic to the southern Iberian peninsula and west Mediterranean, It flowers from March to May.