Israel wildflowers: Jerusalem Thorn
Parkinsonia aculeata,Jerusalem Thorn, Prickly Thorn,
Hebrew: פרקינסוניה שיכנית, Arabic: باركنسونية حادة
| Scientific name: | Parkinsonia aculeata L. | |
| Common name: | Jerusalem Thorn, Prickly Thorn | |
| Hebrew name: | פרקינסוניה שיכנית | |
| Arabic name: | باركنسونية حادة | |
| Family: | Caesalpiniaceae, Senna Family, קסאלפיניים |
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| Life form: | Phanerophyte shrub | |
| Spinescence: | Stipules | |
| Leaves: | Alternate, compound, bipinnate or more | |
| Flowers: | Yellow with red | |
| Flowering Period: | February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December | |
| Habitat: | Disturbed habitats | |
| Distribution: | Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts | |
| Chorotype: | American | |
| Summer shedding: | Perennating |
 Derivation of the botanical name: Parkinsonia, named after John Parkinson (1567-1650), Herbarist to Charles I and was noted for the garden he cultivated in London.
aculeata, with prickles or stings, spine-like.
In the Old Jerusalem souvenir shops ‘Crowns of thorns’, made from branches of the Parkinsonia aculeata, are sold with a ‘certificate of origin’. The Parkinsonia aculeata ia an invasive tree of American origin.  |