Flora of Israel: Callous-leaved Gromwell

Moltkiopsis ciliata, Lithospermum callosum, Callous-leaved Gromwell,
Hebrew: גלעינון החוף, Arabic: حلم – حماط

Scientific name:   Moltkiopsis ciliata (Forssk.) I.M.Johnston
Synonym name:   Lithospermum callosum Vahl
Common name:   Callous-leaved Gromwell
Hebrew name:   גלעינון החוף
Arabic name:   حلم – حماط
Family:   Boraginaceae, זיפניים


Life form:   Chamaephyte
Stems:   30-60 cm; fine hairs interspersed with a few bossed strigose hairs
Leaves:   Alternate, entire
Inflorescence:   Terminal, axillary, leafy cymes
Flowers:   Dark Blue
Fruits / pods:   Nutlets
Flowering Period:   March, April, May
Habitat:   Sand
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:   Saharo-Arabian
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

Moltkiopsis, Moltkia for the Danish noble Joachim Gadske Moltke (1746 – 1818); resembling Moltkia.

ciliata, fringed with hairs; ciliate.
Lithospermum, lithos, λιϑοϛ, stone; with very hard stomelike seeds.
callosum, with a hard skill, thick-skinned, callous; calloused.
The Hebrew name: גלעינון, galinon, from גלעין, galin, pit, stone (in fruit), kernel; a collateral form of גרעין, gar’in.

  • The standard author abbreviation Forssk. is used to indicate Peter Forsskål (1732 – 1763), a Swedish explorer, orientalist and naturalist.
  • The standard author abbreviation I.M.Johnston is used to indicate Ivan Murray Johnston (1898 – 1960), a United States botanist.
  • The standard author abbreviation Vahl is used to indicate Martin Vahl (1749 – 1804), a Danish-Norwegian botanist and zoologist.