Carmel presents us with flowers in all seasons. In this column we will always present one of the Carmel flowers, at the same time as it appears in the field, and you will be invited to visit it in one of the places where it blooms.
Common grebe
A drooping to erect annual herb, the common sedge is one of the most common of the "mustards" or "yellow crucifers" that form lemon-yellow flowering patches in late winter and early spring in fields and along roadsides.
In general, common sedge looks like many crucifers that live in and near its habitat, all of which have dense yellow inflorescences at the tops of the stems and single flowers along their length. These include mustard, bottle gourd, rapeseed, istis, and cabbage, and the main distinction between them is made according to the shape of the fruit, which is unique to each species. The fruit of the sedge is a densely packed capsule, with a nipple at the top. These humpbacked protrusions on the surface of the fruit, the "sedges," are what gave the genus its name. The fruits are borne on thickened, spindly stalks and usually hug the stem or stand upright against it.
Common grebe • Photo: Danny Katz
ID
| family: | Crucified. |
| root: | Skewers. |
| height: | 80-40 cm. |
| Leaves: | The basal leaves are arranged in a rosette, petiolate, elongated, violin-shaped. The stem leaves are smaller, sessile or have a short petiole and are slightly serrated. |
| stalk: | Sparsely covered with short hairs, veined and slightly branched. |
| rash: | In late winter and spring, mainly from February to April. |
| flower: | The flowers are tiny, about 3 mm, and are concentrated at the tops of the stems. The color of the sepals and petals is lemon-yellow. There is a brown spot in the center of the flower. |
| The structure of the flower: | The flowers are arranged in dense racemes at the tops of the stems and in single flowers along the stem. |
| fruit: | A densely packed pod with a nipple at the top. The pods are borne on thickened spines and hug the stem. |
| smell: | A pungent, sulfurous odor. |
| nectar: | The plant produces nectar that attracts pollinating insects. |
| uses: | The plant is rich in nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. The leaves, flowers, and seeds can be used to make a spread. |
| Distribution in Israel: | In the north and center of the country, in fallow fields and low habitats of grass and shrubs. |
A place to meet the flower of the week
Ramat Golda - in front of the house at 23 Golda Meir St., Haifa - next to a pine tree on the west side of the road.
If you go to visit the flower with children, you can tell them the legend of the common coneflower.
The legend of the common gnome
Many years ago, a legend circulated about a unique plant called the common hyacinth, known for its bright yellow blooms. The plant, it is said, was not always yellow. Its original color was a dull green, and it was considered at that time to be a nondescript plant, lost in the surrounding vegetation.
According to legend, in the middle of the forest lived a tiny fairy named "Zoharit." The fairy was always looking for ways to light the path of animals and humans crossing the forest. One day, in the midst of a cold and gloomy winter, Zoharit came across a common coneflower. She noticed how the plant remained upright and stable in the face of strong winds and the piercing cold. The fairy was amazed by the power hidden in the greenish plant and decided to reward it for its steadfastness.
Zoharit touched the light of her wand to the top of the plant and whispered a magical incantation: "Let there be light!" At that moment, the coneflower flowers changed their color to a bright and impressive yellow, like small rays of sunlight illuminating the dark forest. Not only did the plant become a bright spot in the landscape, but its bright color began to attract bees, butterflies, and birds, who came to enjoy the sweet nectar that suddenly appeared in its flowers.
Since that day, the common hollyhock has become known not only as a hardy and strong plant but also as a symbol of light and hope, illuminating the roadsides even on the darkest days. Local residents have told the story to future generations, noting the moral message it contains: even the simple and invisible can become a landmark that leads us to the desired path.
What a lovely corner for the flowers of our country🌻
bless you
Thanks to Danny for all the information 👍
Well done, Danny Katz, for this article. Happy and blessed Shabbat.