Flora of Israel: Shrubby Jerusalem Sage

Phlomis viscosa, Shrubby phlomis, Shrubby Jerusalem Sage,
Hebrew: שלהבית דביקה, Arabic: مصيص، مرمية الحمار

Scientific name:   Phlomis viscosa Poiret
Common name:   Shrubby phlomis, Shrubby Jerusalem Sage
Hebrew name:   שלהבית דביקה
Arabic name:   مصيص، مرمية الحمار
Plant Family:   Labiatae / Lamiaceae, שפתניים


Life form:   Chamaephyte, semi-shrub
Leaves:   Opposite, entire, dentate or serrate
Flowers:   Yellow
Flowering Period:   March, April, May, June
Habitat:   Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon
Chorotype:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Location: Bnei Zion Nature Reserve

Derivation of the botanical name:

Phlomis, Greek name for some plant without application here to these plants; Jerusalem sage.

viscosa, sticky, clammy; referring mainly to the sticky exudate from the glandular hairs.
The Hebrew name: שלהבית, Shalhavit, from shalhevet, ‘flame of fire’, because of the yellow color. The name Phlomis derives from a Greek word for “flame”.

  • The standard author abbreviation Poiret is used to indicate Jean Louis Marie Poiret (1755 – 1834), a French clergyman, botanist and explorer.