Thorny Burnet (Αστοίβη)

Description:

Sarcopoterium is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family. The genus is sometimes considered synonymous to Poterium. The sole species within this genus, Sarcopoterium spinosum, is common to the southeast Mediterranean region and Middle East. It is a perennial bush with small flowers in inflorescence. Sarcopoterium spinosum flowers in February to April and its fruits mature in autumn, then fall to earth to germinate with the rain water. Sarcopoterium spinosum is spiny as it's scientifiv name indicates. In the summer it is dried and appears dead, as in the last pic. It was spotted in Skyros island, Greece.