Scientific name: | Salvia fruticosa Mill. | |
Synonym name: | Salvia triloba L.f. | |
Common name: | Greek oregano, Greek sage, Three-lobe sage | |
Hebrew name: | מרווה משולשת | |
Arabic name: | اذانه, قصين , ميرمية | |
Family: | Labiatae / Lamiaceae, שפתניים |
|
Life form: | Chamaephyte | |
Stems: | 60 cm high; flower stalks 30 cm above the foliage; covered with hairs | |
Leaves: | Opposite, entire, dissected once, smooth | |
Flowers: | Lilach, hermaphrodite, spikes of flowers long, and the worls are generally naked | |
Fruits / pods: | Nutlets | |
Flowering Period: | March, April, May, June | |
Habitat: | Mediterranean maquis and forest | |
Distribution: | Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands | |
Chorotype: | Mediterranean | |
Summer shedding: | Perennating |
Derivation of the botanical name: Salvia, Latin salvere, to save, referring to the long-believed healing properties of salvia. Pliny the Elder was the first known to use the Latin name salvia. fruticosa, Latin frutex, "a shrub", therefore, shrubby, bushy. triloba, tri, tres, three; lobus, λοβοϛ Greek: lobe of the ear; late Latin: husk, pod; 3 lobes. The Israeli botanists Dr. Ephraim and Hanah Hareuveni pointed out that the architecture of the vertical inflorescence of this species of Salvia resembles the shape of the Menorah, in particular—the Salvia Palaestina. Therefore, they suggested that it had inspired the design of the Menorah. Moreover, based on etymology perspectives they suggested that the Hebrew word “Marva, מרווה” (Salvia) was originated from the Hebrew word “Moriah” (the Temple Mount name), reflecting the connection between this plant and the Menorah, which was situated inside the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
|