Maltese Salt-tree
Darnelia melitensis
Family Chenopodiaceae
Maltese name Xebb
Habitat Rupestral
A dense shrub of moderate size (up to 2.5m) with small, cylindrical, fleshy leaves. Flowers very small. The single seeded fruit has five petal-like "wings" which serve for its dispersion by wind. Fruits in October-November.
Grows mainly on coastal cliffs, but is also found in a few inland localities, especially on hillsides in Gozo.
Endemic. Scarce though locally common.
