Helianthemum apenninum croceum

Description

Bonelli 's (Helianthemum croceum) is a botanical species with yellow or white flowers of the genus Helianthemum, belonging to the cistaceae family. Like Helianthemum nummularium but with quite fleshy leaves whose upper surface is covered with white, star-shaped hairs; intense yellow, yellow-orange or white flowers, 14-20 mm. From Portugal and Spain east to peninsular Italy and Sicily; absent in the Balearic Islands and in Corsica. Inhabits open wooded terrain, thickets, and rocky mountain slopes. Helianthemum : generic name that derives from the ancient Greek ( Helios ), "the Sun" and anthemos, "flowered", because the flowers only open with the heat of the sun (they need a temperature above 20º C to unfold its petals) and have a certainpositive phototropism. Certain vernacular names in Spanish, such as Mirasolwould corroborate this interpretation. Authors maintain that its name is due to the similarity of the yellow flowers with the solar star; however, many species are white, orange, pink or purple, which does not fit this interpretation. Others for the affection that the genre would have for sunny places.