Dictamnus albus

This is a remarkably beautiful plant found all over Italy, but only in very localized populations. Growing to a height of up to 100 cm, the stems are erect and lignified at the base with simple basal leaves, while the cauline leaves are imparipinnate, coriaceous and with finely dentate margins. Flowers have 5 pink petals with purple streaks; the 4 upper ones are straight and spatulate, while the lower one is narrower and reflected backwards. The whole plant smells of lemon as it is covered in dark glandular hairs that secrete volatile aromatic substances that can cause skin irritation. It is also considered a medicinal plant with antispasmodic, stomatic and emmenagogic properties thanks to an alkaloid found mainly in the root.