Zagħfran tal-blat ta' Malta mqanfed
A small crocus-like plant of footpaths, exposed rocky ground and low garigue, flowering from February to March with violet, lilac or white flowers. The reference site treats it as endemic, but also finds it is probably a sterile hybrid of two sand crocuses.
The Maltese tufted sand crocus grows on footpaths, exposed disturbed rocky ground, low or unvegetated garigue and damp rock basins. It flowers from February to March, with violet, lilac or white flowers.
The Online Flora of the Maltese Islands describes it as endemic, but its remarks say that morphological analysis shows it is a hybrid between Romulea columnae and Romulea variicolor. It appears to be sterile and spreads by forming dense tufts, so its status as a separate species is still being checked. This entry does not mark it as endemic for that reason.
It is strictly protected by law (Regulation 26 of S.L. 549.44).
How to help
Do not pick or dig up the plant, and keep to paths on rocky ground.
Text: Online Flora of the Maltese Islands (Stephen Mifsud). Edited by the Editorial Team.
