Parkinsonia aculeata,Jerusalem Thorn, Prickly Thorn,
Hebrew: פרקינסוניה שיכנית, Arabic: باركنسونية حادة

Scientific name:		Parkinsonia aculeata L.
Common name:		Jerusalem Thorn, Prickly Thorn
Hebrew name:		פרקינסוניה שיכנית
Arabic name:		باركنسونية حادة
Family:		Caesalpiniaceae, Senna Family, קסאלפיניים

Life form:		Phanerophyte shrub
Spinescence:		Stipules
Leaves:		Alternate, compound, bipinnate or more
Flowers:		Yellow with red
Flowering Period:		February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Habitat:		Disturbed habitats
Distribution:		Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:		American
Summer shedding:		Perennating

Derivation of the botanical name: Parkinsonia, named after John Parkinson (1567-1650), Herbarist to Charles I and was noted for the garden he cultivated in London. aculeata, with prickles or stings, spine-like. The Hebrew name: פרקינסוניה, parkinsonia, a transliteration from the scientific name. The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy. In the Old Jerusalem souvenir shops 'Crowns of thorns', made from branches of the Parkinsonia aculeata, are sold with a 'certificate of origin'. The Parkinsonia aculeata ia an invasive tree of American origin.