Canary Flora > Wild species
Acanthus mollis
Acanthus mollis L.
Family
ACANTHACEAE
Oyster Plant, Sea Dock, Bear's Foot
Description: A perennial herbaceous
plant 1-1.5 m tall, erect, sturdy and vigorous, anchored to the ground
by long tuberous roots that are very sticky and reddish in colour.
Its large, shiny, dark green leaves, which can grow to over 1 m in length, are tightly clustered around the base of the stem, forming an elegant basal rosette. They are simple, alternate, long-stalked, smooth, and with their leaf blade divided into 6-7 large, deep, irregular and sharply toothed lobes, the terminal lobe being larger than the others.
The flowers, which are whitish-pink in colour, are arranged in elegant and striking cylindrical spikes up to 60 cm high. The calyx is bilabiate, with the upper lip more oblong, arched over the corolla, and greenish or violet in colour. Its corolla consists of a single tube-shaped piece about 3-5 cm long, which extends at the bottom to form a long lip, finally divided into three rounded lobes, usually tinged with purple; four thick stamens rest on this lip, somewhat twisted and with hairy anthers. Each flower is surrounded by a few reddish-green oval bracts with spiny teeth.
The fruits are sturdy oval capsules up to about 2-3 cm long, each containing two to four smooth, black seeds about 10-12 mm long.
The whole plant gives off a rather unpleasant odour.
Its large, shiny, dark green leaves, which can grow to over 1 m in length, are tightly clustered around the base of the stem, forming an elegant basal rosette. They are simple, alternate, long-stalked, smooth, and with their leaf blade divided into 6-7 large, deep, irregular and sharply toothed lobes, the terminal lobe being larger than the others.
The flowers, which are whitish-pink in colour, are arranged in elegant and striking cylindrical spikes up to 60 cm high. The calyx is bilabiate, with the upper lip more oblong, arched over the corolla, and greenish or violet in colour. Its corolla consists of a single tube-shaped piece about 3-5 cm long, which extends at the bottom to form a long lip, finally divided into three rounded lobes, usually tinged with purple; four thick stamens rest on this lip, somewhat twisted and with hairy anthers. Each flower is surrounded by a few reddish-green oval bracts with spiny teeth.
The fruits are sturdy oval capsules up to about 2-3 cm long, each containing two to four smooth, black seeds about 10-12 mm long.
The whole plant gives off a rather unpleasant odour.
Habitat: A typically Mediterranean
plant. In the Canary Islands, it is common to find cultivated or
semi-wild specimens near old or abandoned houses, as it was a popular
ornamental species in the past, believed to have been introduced to the
Canary Islands during the 19th century.
In its natural state, it prefers humid and somewhat shady places in the lower and middle areas of the islands, choosing to settle on the edges of paths and roads, abandoned crops, rubbish dumps, stony slopes, etc.
The specimens dry out in summer, reviving with the arrival of the first autumn rains.
In its natural state, it prefers humid and somewhat shady places in the lower and middle areas of the islands, choosing to settle on the edges of paths and roads, abandoned crops, rubbish dumps, stony slopes, etc.
The specimens dry out in summer, reviving with the arrival of the first autumn rains.
Flowering: From late winter to early
summer.
Reproduction: It propagates by cuttings from its underground stems, sown in early spring, or by seeds from April to May. When the fruits are ripe, the seeds pop out of the spike on their own and easily take root in the ground around the bush.
Uses: It is a plant with excellent ornamental qualities. It grows quickly and can be cultivated in gardens or large pots, requiring moderate watering, partial sun exposure and drastic pruning at ground level after flowering. It is very suitable for shady gardens and for covering large areas due to its root system.
Its spikes are beautiful as cut flowers; they are also recommended for making dried bouquets, which last a long time without wilting.
Reproduction: It propagates by cuttings from its underground stems, sown in early spring, or by seeds from April to May. When the fruits are ripe, the seeds pop out of the spike on their own and easily take root in the ground around the bush.
Uses: It is a plant with excellent ornamental qualities. It grows quickly and can be cultivated in gardens or large pots, requiring moderate watering, partial sun exposure and drastic pruning at ground level after flowering. It is very suitable for shady gardens and for covering large areas due to its root system.
Its spikes are beautiful as cut flowers; they are also recommended for making dried bouquets, which last a long time without wilting.
