-
This is a cute deseret annual. WE always lough that it is so cute, but has such a long and unpleasant name. The name is dedicated to 2 of the pioneering Jewish botanists in the land of Israel, before the establishmant of Israel as a state. Anyhow, I was considered as an endemic of Israel and Jordan, but recently found also in Saudi-Arabia. Near the dead sea it is very common.
-
Cephalaria syriaca was once a very common species, growing in traditionally managed agricultural fields. Due to modern agricultural practices it became rare. Here u can see its fruits.
-
Here are the stems of this strange saline shrublet. The flowers and fruits are hidden in the scale clumps at the bottom.
-
Ornithopus pinnatus is extremely rare and endangered in Israel. Its a shy annual of the coastal plain sands.
-
We found Thespesia populnea trees on the coast of Ko Samoi and its islets. This is a wilting flowers that dropped and turned from yellow to orange.
-
Abronia umbellata is a creeping perennial, common along the coasts of western USA.
-
and here are the flowers...
-
We all know the common ivy (Hedera helis). I was delighted to see Hedera colchica in Tbilisi botanical gardens. It has typical rounded leaves.
-
Ornithopus pinnatus is an Mediterranean annual. In Israel it is rare and endangered. Here u can see its typical falcate fruits.
-
Thylacospermum caespitosum is a stone-like or coral-like plant from the campion plant family (Caryophylaceae). It is found above 4500m. and is adapted to the very high mountain conditions - low temperatures, heavy winter snows and strong winds. I felt very bad in these altitudes, but it was worth the trouble...
-
Abronia umbellata is a creeping perennial, common along the coasts of western USA.
-
An annual found in fallow fields, became rare.
-
Italian Sainfoin (Hedtsarum coronarium) is a short leaved perennial common in Italy and S France. It is grown also for fodder. In Sicily we found out that this is more or less the commonest plant on the island.
-
This is one of the few Orobanchaceae species penetrating the desert, most of them grow in more humid areas - Mediterranean and northwards.
-
this shrub is used for ropes by the local bedouins. The branches are torn and longitudinal strips are formed, these are twisted to form the rope. Here you can see a branch of a male bush (see the anthers in the flowers).
-
This is an East African species in origin. In Israel it grows naturally in the hot deserts along the Rift Valley and especially laong the Dead Sea. Along the Rift Valley many African species migrated northwards and are considered very special and unique locally. The flowers of Abutilon fruticosum are openen only in the afternoon, when they shine like candles against the lower sunshine.
-
Cephalaria tenella is a rare annual found in fallow fields in the Middle East.
-
this legume is used as a fodder plant and is also wild in Sicily. These reddish fields are so beautiful to see in April.
-
Osyris alba is a common Mediterranean perennial. Although it has green stems and leaves which phoyosynthesize, undersground it connects to roots of other plants and steals nutrients. This type of plants are called hemiparasites.
-
Thymus bovei is a small aromatic desert shrublet. It blooms in summer. This is a rare and least known species.
-
This is an East African species in origin. In Israel it grows naturally in the hot deserts along the Rift Valley and especially laong the Dead Sea. Along the Rift Valley many African species migrated northwards and are considered very special and unique locally. The flowers of Abutilon fruticosum are openen only in the afternoon, when they shine like candles against the lower sunshine.
-
Cephalaria tenella is a rare annual found in fallow fields in the Middle East.The leaf base is typically toothed in this species.
-
Hedysarum spinosissimum is a common Mediterranean annual with typical prickly pods. The flowers are small and dull pink.
-
A perennial herbaceous plant, common throughout the Mediterranean. It is a semi-parasite that is invading gardens and parks.