Scorpiurus muricatus L.
Diagnostic description:
A sparsely hairy annual. Stems prostrate or decumbent, spreading radially, 10 to 40 cm long. Leaves sparsely hairy, oblanceolate, entire, up to 10 cm long, with 3 to 5 parallel veins. Flowers in umbels of up to 5 flowers on long peduncles arising from the leaf axils. Corolla 7 to 10 mm long, yellow, sometimes flushed with red. Seed pod cylindrical, 3 to 5 cm long, spirally twisted, ribbed, covered with tubercles or spines on the outer ribs.
Distribution:
Local: Common and widespread throughout the Upper Rock and southern parts. Also at North Front.
Global: Found throughout the western Mediterranean region.
Ecology:
Flowers from March, April to May (June).
Habitat:
Grows on clearings, waysides, fields.