Flora of Israel: Fox mignonette

Reseda alopecuros, Fox mignonette,
Hebrew: רכפה גדולה, Arabic: البليحاء الثعلبية

Scientific name:   Reseda alopecuros Boiss.
Common name:   Fox mignonette
Hebrew name:   רכפה גדולה
Arabic name:   البليحاء الثعلبية
Family:   Resedaceae, רכפתיים


Life form:   Annual
Leaves:   Alternate, rosette, diisected once, dentate or serrate
Flowers:   White
Flowering Period:   February, March, April, May
Habitat:   Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes
Chorotype:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Derivation of the botanical name:

Reseda, Latin resedare, “to assuage or calm,” because of supposed sedative properties.

alopecuros, αλωπεκουροϛ (αλωπεξ ουρα), Theophrastus: fox tail, fox brush; fox tail.
The Hebrew name: רכפה, richpa, Reseda is mentioned in the Mishnah as one of the plants that produce color: “And the species of dye, poa and richpa“.

  • The standard author abbreviation Boiss. is used to indicate Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810 – 1885), a Swiss botanist, explorer and mathematician.