About Sideritis candicans Aiton
Sideritis candicans Aiton, also known locally as erva branca and selvageira, is a more or less white to greyish shrub that is densely covered in tomentum. It grows to between 45 and 100 centimeters in height. Its leaves measure 2.5 to 12 centimeters in length and 1.5 to 7.5 centimeters in width; the lower leaves are ovate-lanceolate to ovate, with acute to obtuse tips, rounded to cordate bases, weakly crenate to nearly entire margins, and petioles. The plant's inflorescence can reach up to 30 centimeters in length. Its calyx is 5 to 6.5 millimeters long, with teeth that measure 1 to 1.5 millimeters. The corolla is creamy yellow, with a tube 4 to 5.5 millimeters long that is not exserted; the upper lip is 2 to 2.5 millimeters long, and the lower lip is 2.2 to 3.5 millimeters long, with a shallow notch on the middle lobe. Its nutlets are ovoid and measure 1.5 millimeters. It flowers from March to July. It is widespread in clearings and open sunny places, growing mostly at elevations between 600 and 1700 meters. It is endemic to the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, and Bugio.
