Eretz Israel was blessed with some 70
species of trees, most of which grow in the cooler and rainy Mediterranean region.
Some of them, such as the oak species and the Aleppo (Jerusalem) pine make up
the majority of Israel’s forests and groves. Most of these tree species are
evergreens, thus the groves remain green year-round. The most common species
are the Palestine oak (Quercus
calliprinos) and the Jerusalem pine (which is mostly planted). Noteworthy
among the deciduous species that lose their leaves in the autumn is the Mount
Tabor oak (Quercus ithaburensis),
which is the sturdiest of the oaks and has the most impressive treetop.
Most of the wild trees in both the forests and cities of
Israel are pollinated by the wind and have small, modest blossoms. The Judas
tree (Cercis siliquastrum), with its
magnificent cloak of blossoms, is the most prominent among the species that are
pollinated by insects, followed by the Greek strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne), known for its
blossoms as well as its red trunk. These colorful species are always a minority
and are never the main component of a
plant composition.
In the past, forests covered larger
portions of the Earth, but these areas have shrunk due to human activity:
tree-clearing, fire and grazing. Over the course of history, the botanical
composition of tree habitats in Eretz Israel has changed and in many cases it
is unclear what the ancient forests
looked like prior to human settlement.
Greek strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne)
It is said that the blossoms of this
species allegedly kill off the fruit, which is the previous generation. Closer
examination of these trees in nature shows that the fruit remains on the plant
and nearly overlaps with the blossoms, as if the latter causes them to drop.
The red fruit appears in the autumn.
Before it ripens, the fruit is hard and contains tannins that prevent premature
disperasal by birds. The ripened fruit is soft and sweet with a high pectin
content, making it is especially suited for making jam.
Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
This is the only wild tree in Israel
that blooms solely in pink in the springtime. Its blossoms are particularly
prominent because they appear before the leaves, and not only on the branches
but on the trunk as well. A hint of blossoms sometimes appears in the autumn
and at the height of winter after a few consecutive warm days. This temporary
increase in temperature is sufficient to cause a slight blossoming, but the
subsequent return of the cold prevents continued development and these blossoms
do not ripen into fruit. The appearance of blossoms on the tree trunk is
characteristic of species in tropical regions, attesting to the Judas tree’s
ancient origins, as today it grows only in the Northern Hemisphere.
Mount Tabor oak (Quercus ithaburensis)
Oaks are the largest and most
prominent trees in the Israeli landscape. They play a key role in the botanical
character of plant associations in northern Israel. The Mount Tabor oak is
especially large and it is probably the species referred to by the prophet
Amos: "Whose stature was like the cedar’s and who was stout as the oak,
destroying his boughs above and his trunk below". (Amos 2:9) This oak
species is deciduous and characteristically grows both in valleys and on hills.
Large, sturdy oaks serve to this day
as places for Muslim religious rites and burials – pilgrimages are made to
these sacred trees and they are not to be harmed. The Mount Tabor oak is among
the most exalted of the oaks. Its acorns are the largest and tastiest of all
the oak species found in Israel. The acorns are dry roasted before being eaten
and considered to be comparable to chestnuts. They played an especially
significant role during years of famine and violent unrest.
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