Stats

Lifespan

5-10 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Mediterranean shrubland

Range

Southern Europe

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Uncommon

About

This shrub grows in rocky Mediterranean hillsides. Its silver leaves secrete a pungent oil that prevents nearby seeds from sprouting.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Asterales

Family

Asteraceae

Genus

Santolina

Species

Santolina chamaecyparissus