WILD FLOWERS OF THE ALGARVE
SOUTHERN PORTUGAL

Of seven Cistus species of the Algarve two have pink flowers, Cistus albidus and C. crispus. The remaining five all have white flowers. They are Cistus palhinhae, C. ladanifer, C. monospeliensis, C. salvifolius and C. populifolius.

The first to bloom is the Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus) and by the middle of March the hill sides are covered with the pink flowering bushes. By that time two of the white flowered species have also begun to bloom. the Narrow-leaved and the sage-leaved Cistus,
(C. monospeliensis and C. salvifolius.) Both flower in the same environment.

It is not to difficult to identify the different species.
The pink flowers of C. albidus are larger, (4-6 cm in diameter) than C. crispus (3-4 cm). They also have a longer flower stalk (from 1/2 to 2 cms) while the stalk of the smaller C. crispus flowers are less than 5 mm. C. albidus tends to be a larger bush, reaching 1 m in height and its leaves are whitish-grey in colour. C.crispus is never more than 1/2 meter in height and its grey-green leaves have undulating margins.

If the flower is white first note whether it is a large solitary flower at the end of the flower stalk. Such flowers on a low bush with sticky leaves is produced by C. palhinhae. If the flower is on a tall bush and has sticky leaves with white woolly undersurfaces it is C. ladanifer. These flowers usually have a purple blotch at the base of petals.

The remaining three white flowered species produce clusters of flowers and buds at the end of the flowering stalk. The smallest flowers (2-3 cm) are produced by C. monospeliensis. This bush has narrow lance-like leaves with no stalks.
C. salvifolius flowers are 3-5 cm in diameter and the bush has leaves which are rough, wrinkled and stalked (sage-leaved).
Finally C. populifolius has long stalked clusters of flowers 4-6 cm in diameter. It is a tall, shrub with broad, green, oval, and heart-shaped leaves (like poplar leaves). The sketch below shows this cistus with Cistus Ladifer

These plants show a characteristic typical of Mediterranean climates with long periods of drought. The leaves wilt but withstand this stress and recover when rain falls. Cistus ladanifer is also one of the first species to recover after a fire and all the Cistus produce seeds which will germinate after being damaged by fire. The fire apparently causes the seed coats to take up water.

A parasitic plant which grows on the roots of Cistus makes a brilliant red and yellow show under the bushes. See a photograph of the blooms of this plant, Cytinus hypocistus here.