The red plant that can be seen all over the island of Lanzarote is called cosco which is a species native to the Canary Islands. It is known as an annual. Its life cycle during the year from germination progresses to a flower dispersing its seeds and eventualy dying. Having had a lot of rain this winter the plants have produced a red blanket over the landscape. Despite the reddish hue visible in various areas of Lanzarote, the plant’s leaves are green in its early stages of life. The intense reddish color is reached when it is fully mature, creating a striking appearance. Between February and July, the cosco plant displays small, whitish-yellow flowers, which develop into capsules containing its seeds. Its spectacular nature stems not only from its color but also from its historical use as food during periods of famine, and even from its use in producing soda ash, similar to the use of barilla or water hyacinth. Furthermore, throughout the 20th century, during the famines of World War I, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II, the cosco plant became a lifeline for populations who lacked food due to the conflicts and the difficulty of importing grain. The cosco seeds were roasted and ground to make a type of gofio, which alleviated hunger for generations.