Cistus ladanifer L.

Glandular-viscid, aromatic shrub, 1–2 m high, often forming a large bush. Shoots dark reddish brown, extremely viscid when young, glabrous. Lvs sessile or subsessile, 3.5–9.5 × 0.5–1.5 cm, linear-lanceolate or narrow-elliptic, whitish grey, appressed stellate-tomentulose beneath, glabrous above and shining with very viscid gum when young, usually 3-nerved, revolute, attenuate at apex and base; lf pairs not connate. Fls solitary on short lateral branches which elongate at fruiting. Bracts large and foliose, yellowish brown, very viscid, fringed with long white hairs; lowermost bracts foliose. Pedicels short, extremely viscid. Sepals 3, c. 1.5 cm diam., orbicular, scaly and ciliate. Petals 5–6 cm long, broad-ovate, white with yellow base, with or without a purple or crimson blotch near base. Stigma almost sessile, large, capitate. Capsule 1–1.3 mm diam., globose, stellate-tomentose. Seed angular, glabrous.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Dec.