Reed beds

Salt marshes GUIDE Sand dunes Beach

COMMON REED/CARRIZO SEA LETTUCE / LECHUGA DE MAR ESPARTO GRASS / ALBARDÍN Phragmites australis Limonium sp. Lygeum spartum This tall grass with its plume-like heads forms large stands in damp With lettuce-like and long stems ground and shallow waters. It grows in bearing tiny pink or white , often A grass with spikey flowers from March freshwater but can also tolerate brackish used in dried flower arrangements, this to May. As well as protecting the conditions. It has been used for many can survive salty soils by ‘sweating’ soil from erosion it has been used in purposes including purification of salt-filled droplets from pores on the basketry, bedding for animals and to sewage effluent, thatching and even as undersides of the leaves. It is only found make paper and rope. a medicine. in the Eastern Mediterranean.

GOLDEN SAMPHIRE/ SALVIO BLACK BOG-RUSH EVERLASTING SUNGOLD / SIEMPREVIVA crithmoides Schoenus nigricans (photo) / Juncus sp. Helichrysum stoechas

A bush with fleshy leaves and yellow A perennial with with silvery-green daisy-like flowers from May to A grass-like plant with tufted black leaves which emit a strong curry-like September. It is adapted to life by spikes topping dark green stems. It lives smell when rubbed. The flowers are the sea and in salt marshes but is also in the wettest parts of the sand dunes. yellow and long-lasting making this a drought tolerant. The young leaves Its thin leaves lose little moisture and popular garden plant. It can be found in have been eaten in salads and as a the tips can also trap droplets of water the dunes where it flowers from April to vegetable. aiding survival in drought conditions. August.

GLASSWORT, SALTWORTS ALEPPO PINE / PINO CARRASCO MARMENOR ROCKROSE / TAMARILLA DE SOSAS O BARILLAS Pinus halepensis ARENAL Sarcocornia sp. / Arthrocnemum macrostachyum Helianthemum marminorense Although generally common in the A bush with branches that turn from Mediterranean, these trees were orig- With white flowers and petals like tis- green to red as they fill with salt, thus inally planted in 1917 to conserve the sue-paper this small rockrose flowers from enabling their survival in saline soils. In sand dunes and prevent the sand from December to May. This species is only found it is commonly eaten in salads covering the salt pans. The contorted around the Mar Menor and in the Regional and here in was used to make and stumpy growth form is the result Park where it is protected from the pres- caustic soda for the manufacture of of the strong ´viento de levante´or east sures of trampling and development. soap and glass. wind.

Texts: “Las Salinas” Visitor Centre Contributors: Jose Antonio López Espinosa y Ellen Pisolkar

Unión Europea Print: Ayuntamiento de San Pedro del Pinatar Europa de hacer Una manera Regional. de Desarrollo Europeo Fondo MEDITERRANEAN BUCKTHORN / MARRAM GRASS / BARRON SEA HOLLY / CARDO MARINO ESPINO NEGRO Ammophila arenaria Eryngium maritimum Rhamnus lycioides

A grass with stiff long leaves which Growing on the beach, the leaves of A spiny, tangled shrub with greyish roll up to prevent loss of water, sea holly have an impermeable layer bark. Its perennial leaves are long and flowering from May to July. It lives as a defence against sea spray as well thin and flowers can be found between close to the beach in the mobile as large spines to deter herbivores. Its March and May. With shade and dunes and its anchoring network of small flowers are grouped together humidity provided by the pines, it can underground rhizomes enable it to forming striking blue clusters from survive in the sand dunes of the park. live in shifting sand. May onwards.

MASTIC TREE / LENTISCO SEA DAFFODIL /LIRIO DE MAR SEA ROCKET / ORUGA DE MAR Pistacia lentiscus Pancratium maritimum Cakile maritima

A densely branched resinous shrub with perennial dark-green leaves. Flowers can A herbaceous plant with fleshy, be found between March and June and This bulbous plant flowers between wavy-edged leaves. It flowers from the fruit is a small berry, turning from red July and August and for the rest of the March to October with the petals to black as it matures. The plant yields a year, only the strap-like green leaves turning from white to lilac. The fruits resin which can be used as a varnish, in are visible. Its large white, daffodil-like look like caterpillars and float in the dentistry, as chewing gum and also to flowers have a sweet scent but only stay sea. Young shoots taste of watercress flavour liquors. open for a single day. and are eaten in salads.

COASTAL PHOENICIAN JUNIPER / CRETA TREFOIL/ CUERNECILLO DE MAR NEPTUNE GRASS / POSIDONIA SABINA DE LAS DUNAS Lotus creticus Posidonia oceanica Juniperus phoenicea ssp. turbinata The brown remains of this Mediterrane- A small tree which can reach a height of With yellow crown-like flowers from an sea grass line the edge of the beach 8 metres. It has small scale-like leaves February to June, this plant lives close forming ‘arribazones’ or mounds which with green to brown berry-like cones. to the ground where it is sheltered protect against coastal erosion. Within Formerly it was found all around the Mar from the sea winds. The silvery-green the water, Neptune grass meadows Menor but now is in danger of extinction colour of the leaves comes from tiny clean the water and provide cover and because of the disappearance of natural hairs which enable it to survive both food for hundreds of marine creatures, sand dunes. high salinity and drought. many of which are eaten by man.

HOW TO ENJOY THE FLOWERS AND RESPECT THEIR HABITAT EMERGENCY TELEPHONE * The flowers are best appreciated from the pathways. The wooden boardwalks over the dunes help to conserve these fragile habitats. NUMBER * Watch with patience and silence – you will see more wildlife. * A photograph or drawing is the best memory of your visit. Collection of these protected is prohibited. * Please help to keep the Nature Reserve free of litter. Edition 2016. Please recycle this material after use. Printed on recycled paper. on recycled Printed after use. this material recycle 2016. Please Edition