Israel wildflowers: Syrian Cornflower-thistle

Centaurea cyanoides, Syrian Cornflower-thistle, Knapweed,
Hebrew: דרדר כחול, Arabic: القنطريون الكحلي


Scientific name:		Centaurea cyanoides Berggren et Wahlenb.
Common name		Syrian Cornflower-thistle, Knapweed
Hebrew name:		דרדר כחול
Arabic name:		القنطريون الكحلي
Plant Family:		Compositae / Asteraceae, מורכבים


Life form:		Annual
Stems:		10-25cm in height
Leaves:		Alternate, entire, dissected once, dentate or serrate
Flowers:		Dark Blue
Fruits / pods:		Cypselae
Flowering Period:		March, April, May
Habitat:		Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:		The Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands
Chorotype, טיפוס התפוצה:		Mediterranean
Summer shedding:		Ephemeral

Derivation of the botanical name:

Centaurea, gets its name from the centaur, Chiron, who is said in mythology to have taught us the healing power of herbs.

cyanoides, cyanos, κυανοϛ, blue steel, azure.
The Hebrew name: דרדר, dardar, from Aramaic: דרדרא, dardara; Arabic: דרדאר, darda’ar. (Gen. 3:18, Hos. 10:8). In modern Arabic shauket el-dardar is applied to the star thistles or knapweeds.

The standard author abbreviation Berggren is used to indicate Sven Berggren (1837–1917), a Swedish botanist, explorer and university professor.
The standard author abbreviation Wahlenb. is used to indicate Göran Wahlenberg (1780–1851), a Swedish naturalist.

Cornflower’s medicinal prosperities were first mentioned in the 12th century writings of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) and later the herbalist, Pierandrea Mattioli (1501-1577) recommended it on the basis of the Doctrine of Signatures, a theory according to which a plant’s appearance indicated the ailments it would cure. Cornflower’s deep blue color symbolizes healthy eyes – hence it became a treatment for eye ailments. (In France, the plant is called casse-lunette, or “break glasses”).
Cornflower is still used in French Herbal medicine as a remedy for the eyes.

_{Location:Carmel, Hurshat Ha’arbaim, חורשת הארבעים}