Galium philistaeum, Galium lasianthum,
Galium philistaeum forma calvescens, דבקה פלשת

Scientific name:  Galium philistaeum Boiss.
Synonym name:  Galium lasianthum Eig., Galium philistaeum forma calvescens Feinbrun
Common name:  -
Hebrew name:  דבקה פלשת
Family:  Rubiaceae; Madder, Bedstraw or Coffee family; פואתיים

Galium philistaeum, Galium lasianthum, Galium philistaeum forma calvescens, דבקה פלשת

Life form:  Annual
Stems:  15-30 cm high
Leaves:  Whorled; entire; lanceolate or narrow elliptical, smooth margin
Inflorescence:  Dense clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers
Flowers:  Hermaphrodite; corolla with scattered minute hairs outside
Fruits / pods:  Fruit is variable, sometimes forming multiples
Flowering Period:  March, April, May
Habitat:  Sand
Distribution:  Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Shrub-steppes
Chorotype:  Mediterranean
Summer shedding:  Ephemeral

Galium philistaeum, Galium lasianthum, Galium philistaeum forma calvescens, דבקה פלשת


Derivation of the botanical name:
Galium from Greek word gala, "milk," and alluding to the fact that certain species were used to curdle milk.
philistaeum, from Philistine.
lasianthum, lasios λαιοϛ, shaggy, wooly, hairy; anthos ανϑοϛ, flower; woolly flowered.
  • The standard author abbreviation Boiss. is used to indicate Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810 – 1885), a Swiss botanist, explorer and mathematician.
  • The standard author abbreviation Eig is used to indicate Alexander Eig (1894 – 1938), a botanist, one of the first plant researchers in Israel, head of department for Botanics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and co-founder of Jerusalem Botanical Gardens on Mount Scopus.
  • The standard author abbreviation Feinbrun is used to indicate Naomi Feinbrun-Dothan (1900 – 1995), an Israeli botanist.