Chaparrilla

Appearance

It has stems up to 30 cm tall, with pubescent-glandular branches. Leaves frequently in axillary groups, alternate on the upper part, linear, mucronate, frequently ciliate on the margin, with short glandular hairs all over their surface. Solitary flowers or in cymes with 2-3 flowers. Sepals glabrescent, with some reddish hairs on the margin, particularly on the outer ones; the external ones oblong; internal ovate, acute. Capsule glabrous, with 8-12 seeds. Brown seeds. It flowers and bears fruit from March to August.

Naming

Castellano: chaparrilla, esparraguerilla, gitanilla, hierba blanca, hierba para las almorranas, hierba sillera, jara-tomillo, jarilla, palotillo, pata de perdiz, sillerilla (4), sillerita, sillería, tamarilla, tomillo de flor de jara, zamarrilla, zaparrilla.

Distribution

Southwestern Mediterranean Region (SE of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands and N of Morocco); in the Iberian Peninsula it is concentrated on the Mediterranean coast, from Tarragona to Malaga, penetrating somewhat through the Ebro valley and thermal zones of the SE.

Habitat

It is found in very sunny and open thickets and thyme bushes, in deep soil, preferably loamy and chalky; 0-800m.