Flora of Israel: Plantago sarcophylla Zohary (Plantain)

Plantago sarcophylla, Plantain,
Hebrew: לחך בשרני, Arabic: لسان الحمل لحمي الأوراق

Scientific name:   Plantago sarcophylla Zohary
Common name:   Plantain
Hebrew name:   לחך בשרני
Arbic name:   لسان الحمل لحمي الأوراق
Family:   Plantaginaceae, לחכיים


Life form:   Therophyte, annual
Succulence:   Leaf succulent
Leaves:   Succulent, opposite, entire, smooth
Flowers:   Membranous
Fruits / pods:   Homogeneous seeds-fruits
Flowering Period:   March, April, May, June
Habitat:   Mediterranean strand
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Shrub-steppes
Chorotype:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Derivation of the botanical name:

Plantago, plantagin (stem), a “plantain”.

sarcophylla, sarx, σαρξ, ρκοϛ, flesh; phyllon,φυλλον, leaf, foliage; with fleshy leaves.
The Hebrew name: לחך, lahakh, the plantain, New Hebrew, from לחך, lahakh, was licked up, was lapped up, was eaten up.

  • The standard author abbreviation Zohary is used to indicate Michael Zohary (1898 – 1983), a pioneering Israeli botanist.