S’Espartar gets its name from the islet where traditionally Ibizans went to collect esparto grass (Stipa tenacissima), a material that has been used since ancient times to weave ropes, baskets, hampers, espadrilles, olive mill mats and other essential tools for rural life. Although this plant is also found elsewhere in Ibiza, the leaves that grow in s’Espartar are finer and facilitate weaving.
According to tradition, esparto grass was harvested on San Christopher’s day which is 10th July, and also when there was a full moon in December. Having harvested the grass, it was left to dry and subsequently the fibre would be softened in seawater for a month. Some artisans continue to harvest this plant today, although only those who have a special permit to disembark on the island, as it is part of the Nature Reserve of els Illots de Ponent.
s’Espartar is also home to an alfalfa species (Medicago citrina), which can be found as well in the Columbretes islands (Alicante) and in Cabrera. When there were rabbits on s’Espartar, it was a minority plant, however once they had been eradicated it flourished to such an extent that now the island is one of the main places were this plant is found in the western Mediterranean.
Similarly, the European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus), a sea bird that only settles on land to breed, has chosen this island to establish the most important colony in the western Mediterranean. Different gull species also breed here, along with cormorants, shearwaters and other birds and it also claims its own subspecies of lizard.
