Cabezón del yeso
This species belongs to the Labiatae family and it is endemic to the gypsum-rich outcrops along the northeastern coast of Alicante, where only two highly localised populations are known. While still relatively abundant within these areas, one of the populations is severely fragmented and threatened by urbanisation and land-use changes. Both populations are composed predominantly of adult individuals, with very few juveniles observed. Although seed production is high, recruitment remains low, probably due to the severe droughts that affect seedlings survival during the dry season.
Distribution
An endemism restricted to a small coastal area in the northeast of the province of Alicante. It is primarily found in the Marina Baixa and l'Alacantí regions.
Habitat
The species typically grows in semi-arid thermo-Mediterranean areas, within thyme scrublands, wastelands, and along roadsides. It prefers stony, loamy, or chalky soils, between 100 and 300 metres above sea level. It is particularly associated with Triassic Keuper outcrops, characterised by varicoloured clays rich in gypsum, and iron oxides.
Conservation
The principal threat to this species is land use change in the two known populations. Its limited capacity to recolonise degraded habitats heightens its vulnerability. In La Nucia, increasing urban pressure, especially since its habitats lies on land designated for development, has led to a severe decline in habitat quality and significant population fragmentation, raising concerns about local extinction. Additional threats include agricultural activity and infrastructure development, which continue to erode the population and compromise its long-term survival.
Image description
The optical microscope image shows two seeds, presented in dorsal and ventral view. They measure between one and two millimetres in length and range in colour from light to dark brown, with occasional yellowish or greyish hues that reflect varying degrees of maturation. The seeds are ovoid, egg-shaped with rounded ends and a slightly asymmetric outline. The outer seed coat (testa) has a finely rough or reticulate texture with small raised patterns.
The scanning electron microscope image shows a close-up of this reticulation, where the epidermal cells exhibit a clear hexagonal geometric pattern.
Visual touch photograph
The electron microscope image shows a detail view of the seed’s outer coat, or testa, which has a finely rough, reticulated texture. The surface is composed of cells arranged in a more or less regular hexagonal geometric pattern.