Introduction The genus Sideritis, belonging to the Labiatae family, comprises about 140 species of small shrubs (rarely

herbs) which are often aromatic. The greatest diversity of species is found on the Iberian Peninsula, where there are 34 species, and in Macaronesia (the Atlantic archipelagos: the Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira). They are also important in the Eastern Mediterranean. The gender distribution area focuses on the Mediterranean and then extends eastward into western China and Tibet. In eastern Spain this genus is popularly known as rabogatos, while in the south the common name is zaharea.
Ironwort (Sideritis tragoriganum), one of the more appreciated medicinal plants in Albacete province

Ecology These plants thrive in the open, sunny places of Mediterranean shrublands along with rosemary, esparto grass, sage, thyme, etc Traditional Uses Ironworts are mainly used as medicinal plants. Various species of the genus are utilized in the Eastern Mediterranean for the production of many different herbal teas to treat coughs and respiratory problems, diabetes, digestive problems, etc. They are highly valued medicinal plants in Turkey, Greece and Cyprus and can frequently be found in herb markets in Morocco.

Description Ironworts are small shrubs, more or less woody, with herbaceous square stems and leaves that are opposite, simple, entire or toothed, from linear to oval, usually hairy and often aromatic. The flowers are arranged in terminal groups called verticillasters, each having several flowers (at least 2) protected by broad leaves, called bracts, which are often thorny. The corolla is white, yellow or bicolor and consists of two wide lips. The fruit consists of one to four tiny nutlets.

The infusion of some species should not be very concentrated, as this causes a bitter taste. In popular veterinary medicine, ironwort was employed to wash and disinfect wounds in animals and to treat sprains. In Albacete, it was formerly used as a dye plant, providing a yellow colour. Phytochemistry Ironworts are rich in flavonoids, triterpenic steroids and essential oils.
Sideritis syriaca for sale in Greece

Northern Spain is home to a highly prized ironwort called t de los puertos (Sideritis hyssopifolia) where it is used as a medicinal plant to produce different digestive liqueurs or to elaborate flavored spirits.

Sideritis in Albacetes province (Spain) In Albacetes province we can found 10 different species of this genus, mainly endemisms (species quoted in Flora Iberica, Morales, 2010, revised by Diego Rivera).

In Southern and Eastern Spain ironworts are used to make a highly prized herbal tea used externally as a disinfectant for wounds, along with its domestic use for curing digestive disorders. In addition, it is practically a panacea for toothache, kidney stones, vaginal infections, inflammation, colds and flu, liver conditions, fevers, hypertension, etc. The species most used in Albacete is Sideritis tragoriganum while in Cuenca Sideritis hirsute is more widely used.

Determination key. Sideritis of Albacete.

1a. Herbaceous annual plants, no woody .................................................... 2 1b. Perennial, woody plants with herbaceous items ..................................... 3

2a. All teeth calyx equal. Yellow corolla ....................................................... Sideritis montana 2b. Upper teeth in the calyx bigger. White corolla ....................................... Sideritis romana

3a. Clearly aromatic plants ....................................................................... 4 3b. Nothing or weakly aromatic plants ....................................................... 6

4a. 2 flowers in each verticillaster. SE provinces quarter ............................ Sideritis bourgeana 4b. More than 2 flowers in each verticillaster .............................................. 5

5a. . Robust plant, with more than half a meter high, compact inflorescence (you cant see the stem between the verticillasters). Just in Abenuj Range (Tobarra) ......................... Sideritis serrata 5b. Less than half a meter high, inflorescencia no so compact (you can see stem between verticillasters) .............................................................................................. Sideritis tragoriganum (=S. angustifolia)

6a. Narrow leaves with entire margin ......................................................... 7 6b. Wider leaves, toothed margin .............................................................. 8

7a. Short and linear leaves, all plant whitish. All over the province ................ Sideritis incana 7b. Longer leaves, broadly lanceolated with dispersed verticillasters. Just in Relumbrar Range (Villapalacios) ......................................................................................... Sideritis lacaitae

Determination key. Sideritis of Albacete.

8a. Yellow corolla. Just in Caudete (over sandy places) ................................. Sideritis chamaedryfolia 8b. Bicolor corolla, white upper lip and yellow lower lip ................................ 9

9a. Hairy plant with compact inflorescences with close verticillasters, small bracts which doesnt cover the flowers. Wide area ............................................................................. Sideritis hirsuta 9b. Less hairy plant with dispersed inflorescences, big bracts which practically cover the flowers. Just in Segura range .......................................................................................... Sideritis laxespicata

S. incana y S. hirsuta are endemic plants of the Western Mediterranean. The remaining especies are Iberian endemisms, some unique of Spanish SE like S. chamaedryfolia, S. bourgeana and S. tragoriganum. S. serrata is a local endemism of Abenuj mountain (Tobarra). S. lacaitae is endemic of Sierra Morena. S. montana and S. romana are distributed all over the Mediterranean.

Sideritis serrata, a jewel of Albacetes flora

Sideritis hirsuta

The Botanical Garden of Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete) have a extensive collection of Iberian Sideritis, among other areas devoted to the rich regional flora. References: Fajardo, J., Verde, A., Rivera, d. y Obn, C. 2000. Las plantas en la cultura popular de la provincia de Albacete. Ed. Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses Don Juan Manuel. Morales, R. 2010. En Castroviejo, S. Flora Ibrica Vol XII. Familia VerbenaceaeLabiatae-Callitrichaceae. Real Jardn Botnico de Madrid. Obn De Castro, C. y Rivera Nez, D. 1997. Usos tradicionales de rabogatos y zahareas. Quercus, 142: 36-38. Rivera, D. & Obn, C. 1988. Los rabogatos de la provincia de Albacete. Taxonoma, aprovechamiento y conservacin de las plantas de la seccin Sideritis (gnero Sideritis). Al-Basit 24: 221238 Rivera, D., Matilla, G., Obn, C. & Alcaraz, F. 2012. Plants and humans in the Near East and the Caucasus. Ed. Editum.

Texts and pictures: Jos Fajardo y Alonso Verde Revised by Diego Rivera, Concepcin Obn and J. M. Herranz
Up Sideritis lacaitae. Down Sideritis laxaespicata.

Design: Miguel R. Brotons