Pale Fennel-flower
Nigella gallica Jord.
Nigella gallica, known as Pale Fennel-flower, is a species in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Native to southwestern Europe, it occurs in Portugal, Spain, and France. This annual plant is typically found in subtropical regions. Morphological analysis of seed coats indicates that N. gallica is a sister taxon to Nigella segetalis, which is native to the Black Sea area, and both are distinct from other species in the genus.
Description
Nigella gallica is a flowering annual plant belonging to the genus Nigella in the family Ranunculaceae. It is distributed across the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. The species was first described in 1852 by Jord. The plant is adapted to subtropical environments and is distinguished by its seed coat characteristics. Phylogenetic studies suggest a close relationship between N. gallica and N. segetalis, though both are genetically distinct from other Nigella species.
Other common names
Pale Fennel-flower
Distribution
Portugal Continental · Baleares · France · Portugal · Spain
