Israel wildflowers: Oriental Mignonette

Reseda orientalis, Oriental Mignonette,
Hebrew: רכפה מזרחית, Arabic: البليحاء المشرقية

Scientific name:   Reseda orientalis (Muell.Arg.) Boiss.
Common name:   Oriental Mignonette
Hebrew name:   רכפה מזרחית
Arabic name:   البليحاء المشرقية
Family:   Resedaceae, רכפתיים


Life form:   Therophyte, annual
Stems:   Herbaceous, rough, nubby
Leaves:   Alternate, rosette, entire, smooth
Flowers:   White petals
Fruits / pods:   3-6 few-seeded follicles; seeds somewhat pendulous
Flowering Period:   January, February, December
Habitat:   Sand
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands
Chorotype, טיפוס התפוצה:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Derivation of the botanical name:

Reseda, Latin resedare, “to assuage or calm,” because of supposed sedative properties.

orientalis, from the Orient; Eastern.
The Hebrew name: רכפה, richpa, Reseda is mentioned in the Mishnah as one of the plants that produce color: “And the species of dye, poa and richpa“.

  • The standard author abbreviation Muell.Arg. is used to indicate Johannes Müller Argoviensis (1828 – 1896), a Swiss botanist.
  • The standard author abbreviation Boiss. is used to indicate Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810 – 1885), a Swiss botanist, explorer and mathematician.