WILD FLOWERS OF THE ALGARVE
SOUTHERN PORTUGAL

About a week after the first rains, for a very brief time the Autumn Squill Scilla autumnalis will bloom. Its short stalk about 4 -7 cm high will bear a rounded raceme of 6-20 starry blue flowers. The fine narrow leaves will be produced after the flowers.

The other two flowers on this page will only bloom in autumn if the rains are very early. Against warm wall the Periwinkle Vinca difformis will grew rapidly sending out long shoots and even begin to flower.

One of the very early thisles is Carduncellus caeruleus. It has shiny leaves and solitary blue flower heads 2-3 cm in diameter. The heads are surrounded by leaf-like spiny bracts.