Stock Photo - Perennial bushy plant of the globularia family - globulariaceae - up to 60 cm. Stems erect and ligneous. Leaves short-stalked, lanceolate ending in a spine. Bluish flowers, in heads till 2,5 cm in diameter. Very perceptible bracts, imbricate. Characteristics for recognition: Wild senna is a greatly branched shrub which can be distinguished by its flowers which are grouped in blue capitula; it flowers in autumn and winter, and can be found in the ground vegetation of pine woods, sometimes in very open garrigues (Mediterranean woodland) in hot, dry and rocky places. When in flower it cannot be mistaken for any other plant. Properties: Purgative: In cases of constipation this plant can be used as a soft laxative. Antirheumatic and antidiabetic: In case of sugar, articular and muscular pains, and gout. Antiacid: Against stomach acidity. Picking-up and storing : Leaves should be collected at the end of Winter or early Spring. They should be dried and stored in a dry air tight container. Catalan common name: Botja. Corona de frare. Cossiada. Fuixarda. Pixina. Ullastró. Spanish common name: Cebollada. Corona de rey. Coronilla de fraile. Siemprejunta. Distribution in the islands: Cabrera. Ibiza. Mallorca. Minorca. The photo was taken in December of 2005 in one natural place near Olesa de Montserrat (province of Barcelona, Spain)