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Common Andryala (Andryala integrifolia) is a Mediterranean wildflower in the daisy family (Asteraceae) known for its bright yellow blooms, distinctive woolly texture, and highly resilient nature.
Scientific TaxonomyFamily: Asteraceae
(Compositae)Genus: AndryalaSpecies: Andryala integrifolia (originally cataloged by Carl Linnaeus in 1753)
Common Names: Hoary Andryala, Lanutella comune (Italian), Cerraja lanuda or Carmelita descalza (Spanish), and Alface-do-monte (Portuguese).
Physical CharacteristicsAppearance: An annual to biennial herbaceous plant that typically grows between 20 to 100 centimeters in height.
Foliage: The alternate, lance-shaped leaves are entirely undivided or unlobed, which explains the specific epithet integrifolia (Latin for "entire leaf").
Texture: The stems and leaves are covered in a dense layer of soft, whitish, and sometimes sticky hairs, giving the plant a distinctive "hoary" or frosted look.
Flowers: Bright yellow flower heads (capitula) measuring roughly 3 cm across are clustered together in flat-topped clusters called corymbs. They bloom from April to August.
Habitat & DistributionNative Range: It is highly widespread across the Western and Central Mediterranean region, heavily blanketed across the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), Southern France, Italy, and parts of North Africa.
Growing Conditions: It thrives in disturbed, sunny, open landscapes. You will frequently spot it growing in sandy or rocky soils, along roadsides, in ditches, abandoned farmlands, and dry pastures.
Ecological Status: While native to the Mediterranean, it has been introduced to places like Belgium and Sweden, and is flagged as an alien species on the island of Madeira, where it poses a hybridization risk to rare local flora.
Toxicity & DefenseChemical Profile: The plant produces a milky latex.Toxicity: This latex contains toxic compounds, including hydrogen cyanide. Because of this chemical defense mechanism, no parts of the plant should ever be ingested by humans or livestock.
