Family: Thymelaeaceae Genus: Daphne Common name: Oleander-Leaf, torvisco, baladre bord, matapoll. Flowering time: August to October. Life forms: Nannofanerophyte (Nanofaneròfit). Habitats: Holm oak, kermes oak and cork oak woods. Pine and chaparral woods with rosemary and thyme. Garrigues, pine woods and uncultivated land from sea level to 1000 m. Features: It is a shrub with many leaves, all pointing upwards in the shape of a sword point; it could be mistaken for a euphorbia, but if you quickly cut a leaf you will see that it does not produce white latex. There are white flowers in late summer and autumn. You have to be careful with this plant as it is irritating. Notes: The roots have been used throughout the region to catch eels. We crushed the whole bush very finely in a mortar and pestle and poured it into a puddle and in an hour all the eels and fish came up. It didn't kill them, it stunned them or put them to sleep (Benimeli). Information taken from the website http://herbarivirtual.uib.es/ and from Pellicer, Joan (2000). Costumari Botànic. Edicions del Bullent. |