Cistus salviifolius, White Rockrose, Sage-leaved Cistus,
לוטם מרווני
"...A caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels
bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt"
Genesis 37:25
"...Carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey,
aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds"
Genesis 43:11
|
|
|
|
| | Scientific name: |
| Cistus salviifolius L. |
| Common name: |
| White Rockrose, Sage-leaved Cistus |
| Hebrew name: |
| לוטם מרווני |
| Family: |
| Cistaceae, לוטמיים |
Date Picture Taken: March 28, 2008
|
|
|
| | Life form: |
| Chamaephyte |
| Leaves: |
| Opposite, entire |
| Flowers: |
| White |
| Flowering Period: |
| March, April, May, June |
| Habitat: |
| Batha, Phrygana |
| Distribution: |
| Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon |
| Chorotype: |
| Mediterranean |
| Summer shedding: |
| Perenating |
Date Picture Taken: March 3, 2008
Derivation of the botanical name:
Cistus, from kisthos or kistos, "the rock-rose" (Carl Linnaeus).
salviifolius, salvia, "sage" and folius, "leaves"; with leaves like those of that (sage) genus.
- The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy.
The two references in Book Genesis of the Hebrew word Lot (לוט), is wrongly translated "myrrh". Myrrh is not indigenous to Gilead or Israel.
"Lot" (לוט), ledum, ladanum, laudanum, a fragrant resinous gum, collected from the leaves of the Cistus, is the material referred to.
Ladanum is used in herbal medicine and as a perfume ingredient.
H.B.Tristram, the Natural History of the Bible: "Mount Carmel especially abounds in the Cistus, which in April covers some of the barer parts of the mountain with a glow not inferior to that of the Scottish heather. We obtained three species. One of them, Cistus villosus...Another, Cistus salvifolius, is also very plentiful on Carmel... From all these Ladanum is obtained..."
Date Picture Taken: February 18, 2007
Date Picture Taken: February 18, 2007
Location: Carmel mountains; Date Picture Taken: April 7, 2007
|
| | | | |