Israel wildflowers: Yellow Distaff-thistle

Atractylis carduus, Atractylis flava, Yellow Distaff-thistle,
Hebrew: חורשף צהוב, Arabic: بهيمة – خرشف- شوك جمال -خشيرة

Scientific name:   Atractylis carduus (Forssk.) C.Chr.
Synonym name:   Atractylis flava Desf.
Common name:   Yellow Distaff-thistle
Hebrew name:   Distaff-thistle
Arabic name:   بهيمة – خرشف- شوك جمال -خشيرة
Family:   Compositae / Asteraceae, מורכבים


Life form:   Chamaephyte
Spinescence:   Leaves, bracts
Stems:   Erect, up to 15cm; destitute of stems; covered with a prickly down
Leaves:   Alternate, entire, dentate or serrate, spinescent
Flowers:   Cream, yellow, spinescent bracts
Fruits / pods:   Fruits are tufted with fine wool
Flowering Period:   April, May, June, July
Habitat:   Sand
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:   Saharo-Arabian
Summer shedding:   Perennating

Derivation of the botanical name:

Atractylis, Latin atractylis and Greek atraktylis for a thistlelike plant used for making spindles.

carduus, thistle.
flava, bright almost pure yellow.
The Hebrew name: חורשף, Hurshaf, Aramaic, Arabic: خرشوف, Khurshaf.

  • The standard author abbreviation C.Chr. is used to indicate Carl Frederick Albert Christensen (1872–1942), a Danish botanist.
  • The standard author abbreviation Forssk. is used to indicate Peter Forsskål (1732–1763), a Swedish explorer, orientalist and naturalist.
  • The standard author abbreviation Desf. is used to indicate René Louiche Desfontaines (1750–1833), a French botanist.