''Echium judaeum'', commonly known as the Judean viper's bugloss, is an
annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within one growing season, and then dies. The length of growing seasons and period in which they take place vary according to geographical ...
endemic to southern Lebanon, southern Syria and Israel, of the
Boraginaceae family, and which, like other herbaceous flowering plants of the same
genus, derives its name from the
style's resemblance to the forked-tongue of a serpent during the flower's
pistillate-stage of development.
Description
The ''Echium judaeum'' grows to a height of about 50 cm, with funnel-shaped flowers that bloom between February and May. It is one of the few flowering plants where a lavender-coloured flower and a pink-coloured flower can be seen growing alongside each other from the same inflorescence. When revisiting the plant after a few days, the lavender-colour turns a deep purple, violet, or blue.
[, s.v. Echium judaeum] This discoloration of the flower is said to happen after pollination. The flower is bisexual, with petals measuring 25-32 mm in length.
The
simple leaves and stems of the plant are completely covered with fine bristles that protrude from dark scales, and which makes touching unpleasant.
In Arabic, the species of plant is known by the name ''Hyena's henna'' ( ar, حنا الضبع, henna al-dhabaʿ). In Modern Hebrew, the plant is called "the serpent of Judah" ().
Habitat
The plant grows in
shrub lands
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...
, but also appears in deserts. In Ottoman Palestine, the flower's pollen was harvested by honey bees in the production of honey.
Further reading
*
Gallery
File:Echium judaeum.JPG, Lavender and pink floral arrangement
File:Cluster of Judean viper's bugloss.jpg, Echium judaeum in blossom
File:Red flowers of Echium judaeum.jpg, Judean viper's bugloss (Echium judaeum)
File:Flowers in Israel.jpg, Pink blossoms of Echium judaeum
File:Wild flowers in blossom.jpg, Israeli wild flowers
File:Blossoming flowers in Israel.jpg, Pink florets of the Echium judaeum
File:Pinks and Lavenders.jpg, Lavenders and pinks
File:Tel-Sokho-1848.jpg, Flowering plant standing erect
References
External links
Flora of Israel Online, by Prof. Avinoam Danin*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6586170
judaeum
Flora of Lebanon
Flora of Israel
Flora of Palestine (region)