Family |
Cistaceae
Cistus salviifolius
L.
Cistus salviifolius L.
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, Pl. CCXXXVII nº 3; 1983)
Life-form & habit: Shrub 30–60 cm tall, much-branched from the base; stems and branches pubescent, quickly woody.
Leaves: Ovate-elliptic to ovate, covered on both faces with short stellate hairs; petioles not dilated at base.
Inflorescence & flowers: Lateral cymes with 1–3 white flowers, each 2–4 cm in diameter.
Sepals: 5, clearly cordate at base, green, bearing short stellate hairs; the 3 outer sepals are broader and hide the 2 inner ones.
Style: Very short or absent.
Fruit: Capsule compressed and pubescent.
Phenology: Flowers from February to May.
Habitat & elevation: Undisturbed or degraded woodlands, especially on marl and sandstone.
Lebanese distribution:
Ct.: Saïda, Beirut, Dékouané, Nahr-el-Mott, Nahr Abou ‘Ali, Tripoli
Mi.: Ghazir, Bikfaya, above ‘Antoura, Mayrouba, ‘Aramoun du Chouf
Mm.: ‘Aïn Sindiané, Mount ‘Akkar, FaloughaSyrian distribution:
Ct.: Lattaquié, Nahr-el-Kech
Mi.: BhamraNative range: Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Iran, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkey, Türkey-in-Europe. (KEW)
Introduced into: California, Madeira. (KEW)