Israel wildflowers: Musk deadnettle

Lamium moschatum, Musk deadnettle,
Hebrew: נזמית לבנה, Arabic: قريصة الدجاجة

Scientific name:   Lamium moschatum Miller
Common name:   Musk deadnettle
Hebrew name:   נזמית לבנה
Arabic name:   قريصة الدجاجة
Plant Family:   Labiatae / Lamiaceae, שפתניים


Life form:   Annual
Leaves:   Opposite, entire, dentate or serrate
Flowers:   White
Flowering Period:   January, February, March, April, May
Habitat:   Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon
Chorotype:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Derivation of the botanical name:

Lamium, old Latin name of a nettle-like plant mentioned by Pliny, said by some to be based on the Greek laimos (the throat or gullet).

moschatum, musky.
The Hebrew name:נזמית, nizmit, formed from נזם (= nose ring, earring) with suffix -it.

  • The standard author abbreviation Miller is used to indicate Philip Miller (1691 – 1771), a botanist of Scottish descent.