Kingdom Plantae Family Cistaceae Scientific name Helianthemum canum | Order Malvales Genus Helianthemum Rank Species | |
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Similar Helianthemum oelandicum, Helianthemum apenninum, Helianthemum grandiflorum, Helianthemum, Helianthemum croceum | ||
Helianthemum canum, commonly called Hoary rockrose, is a low growing plant confined to rocky dry calcareous areas especially close to the sea.
Contents
Description
The plant typically has a central stock from which numerous branches radiate horizontally or ascending. The small leaves (about 10mm long) are simple and green above but densely hairy and grey below.
The bright yellow flowers have 5 petals and 5 sepals in cymes generally with 1 to 6 flowers in each cyme.
Habitat
In Ireland known only from County Donegal.
Distribution
It occurs in several areas of Europe including France, Germany, Spain, Sicily and parts of north Africa and the eastern Mediterranean countries. In the British Isles it is very restricted in its distribution and is probably only locally common in parts of western Ireland. Elsewhere it is very local or rare.
