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Still More Bible Flowers

© Diana Pederson

It will never cease to amaze me how many "common plants" in North America originated in the Holy Lands. A good example of this is discussed this week, Malva sylvestris. I'll also talk about poppies, Resurrection Plant and Rose of Sharon.

Mallow

This plant, Malva sylvestris, is mentioned in Job 6:6. Different versions of the Bible use different terms to translate the Hebrew word into English. The King James Version calls it the "white of an egg" while it is called purslane in the Revised Standard Version and mallow in the New English Bible. Regardless of the translation, this is a plant found throughout the Holy Lands as well as North America and Europe. The leaves are used to thicken soups, as skin ointments, and as a cough medicine. It is a biennial plant growing 2-3 feet tall with purple or pink flowers.

Poppy

Isaiah 40:6 calls this the flower of the field while I Peter 1:24 refers to it as the flower of the grass. Two species of Poppies, Papaver rhoeas L. and Papaver Somniferum were native to the Holy Lands. These are short lived flowers that last for only 2-3 days. The leaves die back in the heat of the summer.

Papaver Somniferum is the species we get Opium and gall from. Because of its connection to opium, it is illegal to grow this plant. As Jesus hung on the cross, he was offered vinegar containing gall. This is a narcotic that produces a deep sleep. Christ refused the vinegar offered Him because of this factor. He had to suffer to complete the plan of redemption.

Resurrection plant

The Resurrection plant (or Rose of Jericho), called a rolling thing in Isaiah 17:13, is Anastatica hierochuntica. This is a 6 inch tall wildflower with unique characteristics. When the weather is too dry, the roots dry up, it drops its flowers and leaves, and rolls with the wind. After the rain begins again, the branches absorb water, open up again, and scatters its seeds. Although it won't behave this way in the north, it can be grown as an annual plant. Gather its seeds at the end of the season and replant the next spring.

Rose of Sharon

The rose mentioned in Isaiah 35:1 and Song of Solomon 2:1-2 include Narcissus tazetta. It grew in abundance in Israel and was more brightly colored than the native rose plants. These are the original species from which all other daffodils or narcissus have developed.