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.