Stats

Lifespan

10-15 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Mediterranean shrubland

Range

Mediterranean Basin

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Resins

Status

Uncommon

About

This shrubby plant grows on rocky Mediterranean hillsides. Its sticky leaves secrete a resin that ignites instantly when exposed to high heat.

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

Malvales

Family

Cistaceae

Genus

Cistus

Species

Cistus creticus