Leopoldia bicolor, Leopoldia maritima, Coastal leopoldia,
Hebrew: מצילות החוף, Arabic: ربيان

Scientific name:		Leopoldia bicolor (Boiss.) Eig et Feinbrun
Synonym name:		Leopoldia maritima (Desf.) Parl.
Common name:		Coastal leopoldia
Hebrew name:		מצילות החוף
Arabic name:		ربيان
Plant Family:		Liliaceae, שושניים

Life form:		Geophyte
Stems:		18-35 cm high; leafless stem
Leaves:		Rosette, entire
Inflorescence:		Flowers arranged in a spike or raceme
Flowers:		Cream, purple; upper flowers sterile
Fruits / pods:		Loculicidal capsules; (bulbs reproduce offsets)
Flowering Period:		March, April
Habitat:		Sand
Distribution:		Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands
Chorotype:		Mediterranean
Summer shedding:		Ephemeral

Derivation of the botanical name: Leopoldia, in honour of Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1797 – 1870). bicolor, two-coloured. maritima, growing by the sea. The Hebrew name: מצילות, mazilot, lifesaver, lifeguard. The standard author abbreviation Boiss. is used to indicate Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810 – 1885), a Swiss botanist, explorer and mathematician. The standard author abbreviation Eig. is used to indicate Alexander Eig (1894 – 1938), a botanist, one of the first plant researchers in Israel, head of department for Botanics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and co-founder of Jerusalem Botanical Gardens on Mount Scopus. The standard author abbreviation Feinbrun is used to indicate Naomi Feinbrun-Dothan (1900 – 1995), Israel botanist. The standard author abbreviation Desf. is used to indicate René Louiche Desfontaines (1750 – 1833),a French botanist. The standard author abbreviation Parl. is used to indicate Filippo Parlatore (1816 – 1877), an Italian botanist.