Found in rocky places amongst other members of the cistus family, Fumana thymifolia, a delicate shrub with bright yellow flowers, is surprisingly tolerant of full sun. Woody at the base, it forms softly curving stems from which the flower buds droop down like tiny lanterns. The yellow flowers are typical of the rock roses (Cystaceae,) having 5 sepals, 5 petals but unusually 2 of the sepals are smaller than the rest. The stamens are in 2 ranks, the outer ones are sterile, this distinguishes Fumana from the similar Helianthemum.