Israel wildflowers: Egyptian Campion

Silene aegyptiaca, Egyptian Campion,
Hebrew: ציפורנית מצרית, Arabic: السيلينة المصرية


Scientific name:		Silene aegyptiaca (L.) L. f.
Common name:		Egyptian Campion
Hebrew name:		ציפורנית מצרית
Arabic name:		السيلينة المصرية
Plant Family:		Caryophyllaceae, ציפורניים


Life form:		Therophyte, annual
Stems:		15-20cm in height
Leaves:		Opposite, entire
Flowers:		Hermaphroditic; 5 petals, each petal has two tooth-like projections at the top, and a notch in the base; lilach, pink
Fruits / pods:		Capsule containing many seeds.
Flowering Period:		January, February, March, April
Habitat:		Batha, Phrygana,disturbed habitats
Distribution:		Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon
Chorotype:		Mediterranean
Summer shedding:		Ephemeral

Derivation of the botanical name:

Silene, probably from Greek sialon, “saliva,” referring to gummy exudation on stems, and/or named for Silenus, intoxicated foster-father of Bacchus (god of wine) who was covered with foam, much like the glandular secretions of many species of this genus.

aegyptiaca, Egyptian.
The Hebrew name: צפרנית, tsipornit, from ציפורן, tsiporen (Dianthus).

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 L.f. is used to indicate Carolus Linnaeus the Younger (1741–1783),a Swedish naturalist.

See the list of Medicinal herbs in Israel, the parts used and their medical uses to treat various diseases.

_{Location: Hararit, Lavra Netofa (Lower Galilee, Misgav), הררית, מבדד נטופה}