Erodium cheilanthifolium
Erodium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Geraniaceae. Erodium cheilantihifolium is native to limestone, rocky areas of southern Spain and NW Africa. Cheilanthifolium refers to the similarity of its leaves with the fronds of the ferns of the genus Cheilantes. A peculiar feature of this flower is that it has 6 petals and stamens whereas the usual is five. As the species depends on the wind for its pollination, it can be found on summits and ridges. Since North-Africa and southern Andalusia were once connected, these two areas still have many flora and fauna species in common. The Baetic System in southern Spain, together with the Rif Mountains of Morocco, is one of the Mediterranean basin's ten biodiversity hotspots, known to ecologists as the Baetic-Rifan complex. Interestingly I could see the mountains and coast of Morocco across the Mediterranean from the heights of the Sierra de las Nieves where I took this photo.
Erodium cheilanthifolium
Erodium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Geraniaceae. Erodium cheilantihifolium is native to limestone, rocky areas of southern Spain and NW Africa. Cheilanthifolium refers to the similarity of its leaves with the fronds of the ferns of the genus Cheilantes. A peculiar feature of this flower is that it has 6 petals and stamens whereas the usual is five. As the species depends on the wind for its pollination, it can be found on summits and ridges. Since North-Africa and southern Andalusia were once connected, these two areas still have many flora and fauna species in common. The Baetic System in southern Spain, together with the Rif Mountains of Morocco, is one of the Mediterranean basin's ten biodiversity hotspots, known to ecologists as the Baetic-Rifan complex. Interestingly I could see the mountains and coast of Morocco across the Mediterranean from the heights of the Sierra de las Nieves where I took this photo.