About Lithodora fruticosa (L.) Griseb.
Lithodora fruticosa (L.) Griseb., commonly called shrubby gromwell, is a small, densely branched perennial shrub that grows 15 to 60 cm tall. Young stems are erect and covered in short white hairs. Older stems have peeling grey bark, and are often gnarled and twisted. Its alternate leaves can reach up to 25 mm in length, and are covered with flattened hairs. As the leaves age, they frequently develop small raised nodules or tubercules, especially near their downturned edges. Flowers are around 15 mm long, and range in colour from violet to intense blue. Each flower has a long petal tube; the corolla tube is hairless on the outside, while the outer surface of the corolla lobes has only sparse bristly hairs. This species blooms from March to May. Its hairy calyx has 5 lobes that are joined only near the base. The nutlets produced by the plant grow up to 4 mm long. It grows on dry ground and stony hillsides, most commonly on limestone. It can be found in France, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and Algeria.
