Cistus osbeckiifolius

Cistus osbeckiifolius is a shrub usually up to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall, although it may reach 1.55 m (5 ft). Its three-nerved leaves are narrow, lanceolate to elliptical in shape, and slightly pointed at the apex.^[2] They are densely covered with simple hairs.^[3] The flowers are about 5 cm (2.0 in) across, with pink to purple petals.^[2] The stigma is longer than the stamens.^[3] The fruiting capsules are brown and covered with hairs.^[2]

Cistus osbeckiifolius was formally named in 1887^[1] (the epithet was originally spelt osbeckiaefolius).^[4] Philip Webb collected in the Canary Islands in 1828–1830. Although he gave this species a name and wrote a description, it was not published in his lifetime (he died in 1854).^[5] In 1887, Heinrich Christ published Webb's description, along with those of other plants in Webb's herbarium.^[4] The epithet osbeckiifolius means "with leaves like Osbeckia".

A subspecies, C. osbeckiifolius subsp. tomentosus Bañares & Demoly, has been recognized (hence creating the nominate subspecies, C. osbeckiifolius subsp. osbeckiifolius), although as of March 2015^[update] The Plant List does not accept this taxon.^[1]

A 2011 molecular phylogenetic study placed C. osbeckiifolius as a member of the purple and pink flowered clade (PPC) of Cistus species, along with other Canary Island endemics.^[6]