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.

Ophrys fusca ssp bilunulata

Ophrys fusca ssp bilunulata  Sombre bee orchid

We found this Ophrys fusca yesterday, 27.3.2015 and it has been confirmed as a subspecies by a botanist from Granada. It was about 15cms tall and growing in the mountains. It is native to west Mediterranean and grows from 10~40cms tall. It is found in thickets, pastures and forest clearings. This one was found on a verge by a road.

Mirabilis jalapa

Mirabilis jalapa Four o'clock plant

Don Diego

This pretty plant, native to South America, has naturalised in lots of tropical and temperate areas, as it has here in places. Once you have it, the roots will become enormous and it is difficult to eradicate. Some plants have different coloured blooms on the same stem. They do not flower until late afternoon, hence the name, and are highly perfumed. They are pollinated by long tongued moths. It is often mistaken for the Tobacco plant, Nicotiana which is an annual. This is a perennial plant.

Stellaria media

Stellaria media Common chickweed

Pamplina

This very common chickweed is present all over Europe and north America. What I didn't know was that is is totally edible and nutritious especially when used raw in salads.In folklore it was used to treat itchy skin conditions and respiratory diseases. It can be used as a poultice for cuts and burns. It grows from 2cms to 15cms tall. It does contain SAPONINS which in great quantity (many kilos) can be toxic. Not to be eaten during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Papaver pinnatifidium

Papaver pinnatifidium

Amapola

This poppy flowers from February to June and is found around the Mediterranean basin.

Fumaria capreolata

Fumaria capreolata Ramping fumitory

Conejitos

This glorious little fumitory is native to Europe, W Asia and north Africa. It flowers from January to June and can spread from 20cms to 1 metre.

Fumaria officinalis

Fumaria officinalis Fumitory

Fumaria

This little fumitory is common all over Europe, the Mediterranean, and possibly in many countries. It flowers from February to June and can grow to a height of 60cms.

Platycapnos spicata

Platycapnos spicata Spiked fumitory

Palomitas espigadas

This colourful little plant is native to the Iberian peninsula, and grows from 10~30cms tall. It can be found in flower from March to June.

Dactylorhiza insularis

Dactylorhiza insularis 

This beautiful orchid is native to the western Mediterranean and flowers from April to June. It grows from 15~40cms tall. It differs from D. sulphurea by it spurs which are shorter and wider.

It often grows in little colonies.

Anacamptis collina or O. saccata

Anacamptis collina or O. saccata Fan lipped orchid

Orquidea pobre

Flowers from  January~April and is a native of the Mediterranean basin. It grows from 10 to 30cms tall. It has been renamed Anacamptis collina by some sources.

Ophrys fusca

Ophrys fusca Sombre bee orchid

This Orchid is widespread in the Mediterranean, from Portugal to Turkey. It flowers from February to April, and can often be missed as it hides away sometimes, under oak trees and in among bushes. It is usually from 15~30cms tall. This one has unusual markings, but the O. fuscas do vary considerably. Photographed 16.3.2015 Montejaque. 

Narcissus cerrolazae

Narcissus cerrolazae Montecorto narcissus

This wonderful daffodil is native to specific areas in Andalucia .This species flowers from February to April and grows from 20~40cms tall. It is often confused with Narcissus jonquilla ssp fernandesii, which is NOT present in this area.  It has rush like leaves and prefers a damp soil, often found near streams. I have had to correct this as it isn't a jonquil. I KNEW that someone would correct me. Narcissi are changing names all the time here, and I am finding it all very confusing. This is definitely N. cerrolazae. I found some flowering today. 15.1.2016

Narcissus cuatrecasasii/arundanus

Narcissus cuatrecasasii/arundanus Rush leaf jonquil

Narciso amarillo

This tiny, delicate Narcissus only grows to a maximum of 15cms tall. The plants I saw today were much smaller. It is a native of Spain and southern France. If you are lucky enough to get close to it, it has a delicate perfume. It flowers from February to April in rocky sheltered areas.