Israel wildflowers: Spiny Alkanet

Alkanna strigosa, Spiny Alkanet,
Hebrew: אלקנה סמורה, Arabic: هواء جوي، جوه

Scientific name:   Alkanna strigosa Boiss. et Hohen
Common name:   Spiny Alkanet
Hebrew name:   אלקנה סמורה
Arabic name:   هواء جوي، جوه
Family:   Boraginaceae, זיפניים



Life form:   Chamaephyte
Leaves:   Alternate, entire
Flowers:   Blue
Flowering Period:   February, March, April, May
Habitat:   Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands,
Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

Alkanna, Middle English alknet, from Medieval Latin alcannetta, from Arabic al-ḥanna, al-ḥinnā’ the henna (Lawsonia inermis lythraceae).

strigosa, striga, a straight rigid close-pressed rather short bristle-like hair; strigosa – covered with strigae, bristled.
The Hebrew word: אלקנה, Alkanna, transliteration from Medieval Latin, from Arabic.

  • The standard author abbreviation Boiss. is used to indicate Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810 – 1885), a Swiss botanist, explorer and mathematician.
  • The standard author abbreviation Hohen. is used to indicate Rudolph Friedrich Hohenacker (1798 – 1874), a Swiss-German missionary and botanist.