Dama de Tenerife (Parolinia intermedia)

Erect shrub, compact, highly branched, woody, stems covered with star-shaped hairs. Leaves linear-lanceolate, greyish-green. Numerous flowers, terminal or subterminal, whitish-pink. Fruits (pods) capsular, less than 2 cm long, each valve containing 4-5 seeds. This native of Tenerife is found in the south, southwest and west of the island, between Montaña de Guaza (Arona) and Teno massif, and is very common in some areas. It grows from sea level up to around 750 m, in xerophytic scrub and the remains of thermophile vegetation. The genus Parolinia is exclusive to the Canaries and has six recognized species, although several others have yet to be described.