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.
Mountain Tulip
The mountain tulip is a geophyte with a large bulb, buried deep in the ground. From it rises an inflorescence stalk topped by a single bright red, bell-shaped flower that does not open wide like the flowers of the anemone and the bulb.
The number of petals is 6, and they are 8-6 cm long. At their base is a black spot that probably directs the pollen to the center of the flower. The mountain tulip flower blooms from January to May, offering insects only pollen.
The flower is pollinated mainly by Amphicoma flower beetles, which are attracted only to the color red. The mountain violet develops mainly in the open, mountainous and rocky areas of the Mediterranean region.
ID
| family: | Roses. |
| root: | The girdling shadow is up to 40 cm deep into the ground. |
| height: | Up to 40 cm. |
| Leaves: | 4-2 lanceolate leaves. |
| stalk: | Upright flowering stem. |
| rash: | In early spring, mainly in February and March. |
| flower: | A large, solitary flower that usually grows in clusters, bisexual, fiery red in color, bell-shaped, and not wide open, unlike the anemone and the bulb. |
| The structure of the flower: | Consists of 6 petals that are 8-6 cm long, 3 outer and 3 inner, with a black spot at their base. |
| fruit: | The capsule opens with 3 lobes and contains many seeds. |
| smell: | The flower has no smell. |
| nectar: | The flower lacks nectar, offering insects only pollen. |
| uses: | Mostly ornamental. |
| Distribution in Israel: | Grows mainly in open areas throughout the Mediterranean region: in the mountains and on the coastal plain, in the Galilee, Carmel, the Judean Mountains and Samaria. |
A place to meet the flower of the week
Parked the vehicle on the west side of the road in an empty lot at the end of Yona Engel Street in the Ramat Golda neighborhood, where the road makes a curve in front of a lamppost on the north side of the road.
Enter the fenced area through the western gate of the two in the fence to prevent pigs from entering. About 50 meters after the gate, turn right again for another 50 meters through a goat path. In the vegetation ahead of you, you will see a large number of mountain tulips blooming scattered rather than in clusters.
If you go to visit the flower with children, you can tell them the legend of the mountain tulip.
The Legend of the Mountain Tulip
In a hidden valley between high mountains, there was a small village where people lived who loved nature very much. But above the village rose a tall, gloomy mountain, and on its top grew only one flower: the mountain tulip. The flower was beautiful – red petals burning like fire, and a delicate green stem. No one dared to pick it, because it was said that it was a magical flower that protected the village.
One day, a young prince came to the village who had heard about the special flower. "I must bring the flower to my palace," he said proudly. The villagers tried to warn him: "If you pick the mountain tulips, the weather in the village will change, and our beautiful fields will dry up!" But the prince did not believe the stories.
He climbed up the mountain, reached the top and saw the flower shining in the sunset light. He reached out and plucked it from the ground. As soon as he did so, the wind grew stronger, the clouds darkened the sky, and the rain stopped falling. The plants in the village began to wither, and the river dried up.
The prince, seeing what had happened, was filled with remorse. Suddenly he heard a soft, whispering voice – it was the mountain lily speaking to him:
"If you return me to the earth at the top of the mountain, I can return the blessing to the village."
The prince, filled with emotion and regret, went back up the mountain and planted the tulip in the place where he had uprooted it. As soon as the roots touched the ground, the rain began to fall again, the river began to flow again, and the fields were filled with green.
Since then, the villagers have learned to respect and protect nature. And the tulip? It continues to bloom there, at the top of the mountain, guarding the village forever.
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The story is very nice..
Thank you for the beautiful and enriching articles. I was wondering if you are Danny Katz who studied at the Yalga school a long time ago…????
Thank you very much. There is a children's song "Eilat and Tulips in the Grove" from: "Every Flower Is a Song" by Michael Deshe. (Jezreel Publishing, 1979).
Great! Thank you very much. If you are traveling with children, you can read to them "Eilat and Tulips in the Grove" from: "Every Flower is a Song", by Michael Deshe…
Thank you very much, Danny Katz, for such a detailed, organized and interesting article.
Good luck and Shabbat Shalom
Well done, Danny Katz, for the article. Happy and blessed Shabbat.