Spiny Starwort, Hebrew: מוצית קוצנית, Arabic: نجمة مريم
| Scientific name: | Asteriscus spinosus (L) Schultz Bip. | |
| Synonym name: | Pallenis spinosa (L) Cass. | |
| Common name: | Spiny Starwort | |
| Hebrew name: | מוצית קוצנית | |
| Arabic name: | نجمة مريم | |
| Family: | Compositae / Asteraceae, מורכבים |
|
| Life form: | Hemicryptophyte | |
| Stems: | 30-60 cm, covered with soft hairs, woody at base, usually branched | |
| Leaves: | Alternate, rosette, entire, dentate or serrate | |
| Flowers: | Orange, yellow | |
| Fruits / pods: | 2-2.5mm, pappus of numerous scales | |
| Flowering Period: | April, May, June | |
| Habitat: | Batha, Phrygana | |
| Distribution: | Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon | |
| Chorotype: | Mediterranean | |
| Summer shedding: | Ephemeral |
Derivation of the botanical name: Asteriscus , the Greek word 'asteriskos' meaning "small star" in reference to the smaller star shaped flowers. spinosus, thorny, prickly; crabbed, difficult; Pallenis , palea (chaff), referring to the chaffy receptacle. The Hebrew word: מוצית, motzit from מןץ, motz, chaff.
|