Parrot's Beak flowers

Parrot's Beak (Lotus pyranthus) in flower

La Palma has lots of rare plants which grow nowhere else, and many of them are threatened by grazing or habitat loss. This is one of two species called Parrot's Beak or Fire Beak (Lotus pyranthus), both of them very rare in the wild and officially classified as "in danger of extinction".

But here it is growing beside the road to the Roque. Mind you, it's not exactly wild - it was planted out behind a fence last year, where the Barbary sheep, rabbits and goats can't get at it. Clearly it's working because they're now flowering, and very pretty they are too.

And no, I didn't go inside the fence. I got this photo by leaning over it, in the most uncomfortable way, and I'm glad I made the effort.

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The oldest part of Puntallana

The spring of San Juan

Puntallana originally grew around the spring of San Juan. Today,the spring is still there, but it's nobody's drinking water (which is a good thing, seeing as the water's green.)

Weed floating on the pools at the spring

Still, it's a peaceful spot to visit, and they still hold a yearly procession where they take the statue of the village's patron saint, St John the Baptist, to the spring to give thanks for the water.

Closeup of the spring

Local housewives used to wash the family laundry nearby at the Fuentiña - the little spring.

To find the two springs, just wander downhill from the church or Casa Lujan.

The old laundry at the Fuentiña, with washbasins at the left

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