Origanum syriacum, Hyssop, Wild Marjoram, in Arabic Za’atar in Hebrew: Esov, אזוב “holy herb” Hyssop is a wild aromatic herb similar to oregano, which was thrown into the fire when the red heifer was offered as a burnt sacrifice during Temple times. (Numbers 19:6) The name hyssop can be traced back almost unchanged through the […]
Nicotiana glauca, Tree Tobacco, (Hebrew: טבק השיח) A 2- to 6-m shrub or small tree, native of South America (Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia) and has been cultivated and widely naturalised in the Mediterranean region. The plant is named after Jean Nicot (1530-1600), a French diplomat, who is said to have introduced tobacco to Europe. He […]
Gundelia tournefortii, Galgal, Tumbleweed (Hebrew: Akuvit ha-galgal, עכובית הגלגל; Arabic: ‘akkub, akoub or kardi in conversational Arabic, as well as kankar). The gundelia, is an edible spiny, thistle-like flowering plant, a member of the Aster family (Asteracea or Compositae). A member of this genus, tumbleweed Gundelia tournefortii, Galgal came under the spotlights in 1998, when […]
Cedrus libani Cedar of Lebanon (Hebrew: Erez Helevanon, ארז הלבנון) There are only three species of Cedars in the world: the Lebanon cedar, the Deodar of the Himalayas and the Mount Atlas Cedar. The Lebanon cedar is originally native to Asia Minor. This tree does not grow wild in Israel and large forests of Lebanon […]
Myrtus communis, Myrtle (Hebrew: Hadas, הדס) The myrtle, Myrtus communis, is a shrub with evergreen leaves. The small white flowers are produced in the middle of the summer. The fruit is a small, black berry, resembling a blueberry and is edible but seldom eaten. The entire plant contains a fragrant oil. In Hebrew myrtle is […]
Citrus Medica, Citron, Etrog (Hebrew: אֶתְרוֹג) The origin of the citron is unknown, but it was the first cultivated citrus fruit, with records dating back to 4000 BCE. It was a common fruit in the Mediterranean region at the time of the Bible and it is mentioned only once, as one of the four species […]
Nigella arvensis, Love in a mist, (Hebrew: qetsach, keh’-tsakh, kezah, קצח). Nigella is probably native to western Asia where it grows both wild and cultivated. Nearly all names of nigella contain an element of black: in Arabic kamun aswad, “Al-habbat ul Sawda”; in German Schwarzk?mmel; in Latin Nigella (niger). In some English sources Nigella arvensis […]
‘They showed the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, to arouse them for battle’. I Maccabees 6:34 In the Mediterranean countries the white and the black mulberry have been cultivated. The morus alba (White Mulberry) is a native of China and are extensively grown for their leaves as food for silkworms. The black mulberry, […]
‘They showed the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, to arouse them for battle’. I Maccabees 6:34 In the Mediterranean countries the white and the black mulberry have been cultivated. The morus alba (White Mulberry) is a native of China and are extensively grown for their leaves as food for silkworms. The black mulberry, […]
zimrat ha’aretz, זמרת הארץ ‘zimrat ha’aretz’, can be interpreted as ‘the praise of the Land’, or as ‘the song of the Land’. ‘zimrat ha’aretz’are mentioned as the gifts that Jacob sends down to the Egyptian governor (Joseph) to plea for food during a time of drought in the Land of Israel: ויאמר אלהם ישראל אביהם […]
Styrax officinalis, Official Storax, Poplar, לבנה רפואי, اللبنى, Amberboom. Storax (Styrax officinalis), the Hebrew word ‘nataf’- נטף (Nataf /’stacte’ is a synonym of tzori (means ‘a liquid drop’ – makes the spice Stacte, used in the holy incense (Exodus 30.34 “And the Lord said to Moses: Take unto thee spices, stacte, and onycha, galbanum of […]
Posted by ModraY at 6/04/2007
Posted by ModraY at 6/04/2007
Posted by ModraY at 6/08/2007
