Flora of Israel: Leopoldia comosa

Leopoldia comosa, Purple Grape Hyacinth, Tassel Hyacinth,
Hebrew: מצילות מצוייצות, Arabic: بصل الزيز

Scientific name:   Leopoldia comosa (L.) Parl.
Synonym name:   Hyacinthus comosus L.
Common name:   Purple Grape Hyacinth, Tassel Hyacinth, Tufted Grape Hyacinth, Hairy Muscari, Edible Muscari
Hebrew name:   מצילות מצוייצות
Arabic name:   بصل الزيز
Family:   Liliaceae, שושניים


Life form:   Geophyte
Stems:   Flower stem 18-35 cm high
Leaves:   Rosette, simple, linear, entire margins
Inflorescence:   Flowers arranged in a spike or raceme
Flowers:   Cream, purple; tuft of bright violet, blue or pinkish sterile flowers at the top of the raceme
Fruits / pods:   Loculicidal capsules; (bulbs reproduce offsets)
Flowering Period:   February, March, April
Habitat:   Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon
Chorotype:   Med – Irano-Turanian
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Derivation of the botanical name:

Leopoldia, in honour of Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1797 – 1870).

comosa, with long hair growing in tufts, in Pliny, ‘with many leaves’.
Hyacinthus, named for Hyakinthios, a young prince of Sparta, loved by Apollo, who died after being struck on the head by a discus. The hyacinth flower sprouted where his blood fell.
The Hebrew name: מצילות, mazilot, lifesaver, lifeguard.

  • The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy.
  • The standard author abbreviation Parl. is used to indicate Filippo Parlatore (1816 – 1877), an Italian botanist.