Massaroco

Massaroco is the common name given to two species of plants of the genus Echium , belonging to the family Boraginaceae , endemic to the archipelago of Madeira : Echium candicans Lf and Echium nervosum Dryand. The two species are relatively simple to distinguish at closer look, due to a number of characteristics such as size, color of its inflorescence and flowers, and habitat.

Echium candicans

Presents itself as a shrub which can reach 2 meters. They generally appear in temperate and humid areas of Madeira, between 800-1400 m in altitude. These plants bloom between April and August.

Echium nervosum

It is a common plant which grows naturally on the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and uninhabited islands such as Desertas. They basically grow in areas under the influence of Mediterranean climate between 0 and 300 m altitude. These plants bloom between January and August.