After the First Rain

I've blogged about Titora Hill many times before but it's just up the road from me - a ten minute walk at the most - so it's a place I visit quite often. I went up there recently to look for some particular flowers, the products of the first rains, and there they were - Sitvanit - one of the first flowering plants of the autumn. This small, delicate flower is sensitive to rain, and right after the first shower it blooms, directly from the ground, with beautiful pink flowers.

Sitvanit's common name is Steven’s Meadow saffron, while its scientific name is Colchicum stevenii Kunth. The flower is dedicated to Christian von Steven, author of various transactions of the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow published since 1838. In Hebrew it is known as Sitvanit HaYoreh (סתוונית היורה): Sitvanit from Stav meaning autumn and HaYoreh, the name of the first rain of the season. The Sitvanit is a perennial plant that belongs to the Lily family, along with the Lilies, Tulips, and Hyacinths. It is referred to in the Mishnah (the oldest authoritative postbiblical collection and codification of Jewish oral laws) where it is said to be used to produce vinegar. In addition, the Colchicum species contain Colchicine, originally used to treat rheumatic complaints and especially gout. Its present medicinal use is mainly in the treatment of gout; as well, it is being investigated for its potential use as an anti-cancer drug. 

There were other signs of new life on the hill. Clumps of rakefot leaves (scientific name: Cyclamen persicum, the Persian cyclamen) could be seen in many places. Rakefot bloom throughout late winter and into spring, so we will soon see carpets of this delicate pale pink flower in many areas of the country. The Hebrew name Rakefet (רקפת) comes from the Syrian name Rakafta. The popular name for cyclamen in Arabic is Sabounat al- Raa'i, or soap of the shepherd, testifying that herdsmen recognised the foaming qualities of saponin in the plant and used the leaves or tuber as soap in times of emergency. Cyclamen contains a toxic saponin, cyclamin, in the tuberous rhizomes.
There were also a few remaining red sabra (prickly pear) fruit left on the Opuntia cactus. This cactus has large flat pads (which, incidentally, are also edible), thorny fruits, and flowers that blossom annually. Sabra cacti can be seen scattered throughout the Israeli hills, where they were often planted to serve as natural dividers and barriers.

* This post has been shared on Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wednesday around the World, Wow Us Wednesdays, {wow me} wednesday, Little Things Thursday, Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop and Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday).