Retama of Teide, white like the snow

The white Retama of Teide, Spartocytisus supranubius, is a leguminous bush endemic of the islands of Tenerife and La Palma very abundant in the subalpine zone of the Canadas of  Teide, where it comprises of the vegetal community called "retamar" composed by summit scrubs. It shares the habitat with the red tajinaste, codeso de cumbre, escobon or tagasaste, the amagante, the pajonera grass, the alheli of the Teide, neuta or gatera grass, the rosalito de cumbre and the fistulera grass. 

Gorgeous image of a Spartocytisus supranubius to about 2,000 msnm with the Teide snow-covered to the bottom in the heat of month of May. Its name of Spartocytisus sort makes reference to the intermediate botanical characteristics between the sorts Spartium and Cytisus. Its name of species supranubius is formed by two Latin words: supra that means " over " and nubius, that means " cloud ", that is to say, that grows over the cloud bank that surrounds as a white ring the highest summits by the Canary Islands. I recommend to extend the photos with a double click to see them better. 

Retama of  Teide on the verge of blooming at the beginning of May. This shrub reaches the 2 meters of height and is one of the predominant plants of the flora of high mountain of Tenerife and La Palma.

Spartocytisus supranubius in the Port of Izana to 2,338 msnm. next to the highway that goes of the Teide towards Arafo. The photo is done the 11 of May. There was snow in the roadside ditch.

The tender buds have trifoliate leaves with linear leaflets, at the beginning of an alive clear green color that it becomes with time grayish.

Stems of retama of Teide that remain without leaves the year most of, since they are expired and they fall with the first colds of the autumn. In order to realise the photosynthesis the stems conserve the green color.

 

Flowery Spartocytisus supranubius at the beginning of May in slopes of the crater that surrounds the tip by the Teide growing on almost black volcanic gravel.

Ebullient white flowering of the Retama of Teide

Detail of a flowery branch of previous retama.

The flowers have an intense immaculate white color like the snow that shines with own light.