This was a common weed of waste places seen on all our coastal walks here in the Canary islands. It is actually an Indian plant possibly brought here because of its reputed medicinal properties. Although a member of the Amaranthaceae family, I had originally though it was some kind of mint and so it took ages to identify. Being an introduction, it tends not to feature in the floras of these Islands.

Waste land on walk from Puerto de la Cruz to Cafe Paradiso, Tenerife, Canary Islands 11th February 2009

Added on February 20th 2009, updated 20th February 2010, updated 26th Feb 2012