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Table 4 Various patterns

From: Medicinal plants of the Bible—revisited

Species / English

Name

Source of evidence

Botanical status / Origin

Additional uses:

Ceratonia siliqua L. *

Carob

M: [20:175,180,184,186,284, 100:41].

In / D: BT: Baba Batra 68b.

E

Eruca sativa* Mill. / Rocket

See discussion

BT: Yoma 18b, Shabbat 109a, Gittin 69b (under “Gargir”).

M: [20: 210].

D, BT: Eruvin 28b, Ma'aserot 48:73.

E

Foeniculum vulgare

Mill.

C

E: [65:105-106, 75:28, 71:41]

M: [73:52, 101: 234-242].

In

E / S

Laurus

nobilis

L.* /

Bay Leaf,

Laurel

See discussion

AR: [37].

BT: Gittin 69b

In

S

Pistacia lentiscus

L.* /

Lentisk

E: [70:80]. AR: [33], (P. lentiscus /P. palaestina).

MI: Tosefta Shabbat 12:8.

In

R

Sesamum indicum L.

Sesame

E: [64:79, 65:147, 68:85]. BT: Gittin 69b. M: [80:233].

D / SEA

BT: Very common crop in the Talmud period, Sabbath 89:42, Nedarim 86:49,

MI: Machshirin 81:46.

E, BT: Sabbath 82:42, Nedarim 86:49. / Oi

Trigonella foenum –graecum L. / Fenugreek

E: [65:85-87, 68:85].

M: [73:52-53, 78:430].

In /EM-SWA

/ D

E

  1. Botanical status: In: Indigenous; Im: Imported; D: Domesticated/cultivated. If there is no specific reference, we followed [143].
  2. Origin: A: Arabia; CEA: Central East Asia; E: Europe; EAR: East Arabia; EA: East Asia; EAf: East Africa; M: Mediterranean; EM: East Mediterranean; NE: Near East; SEA: Southeast Asia; SEE: Southeast Europe; SWA: Southwest Asia. If there is no specific reference, we followed [143].
  3. Additional uses: Ap: Apotropaic; E: Edible; F: Fibre; I: Incense; M: Magic; P: Perfume/cosmetics; O: Ointment; Oi: Oil; R: Ritual; S: Spice, condiment; Re: Resin; T: Timber; W: Wine
  4. *Included in Jacob’s [2] list (see text). The categories of the reliability levels of the Biblical plants’ identification are according to Amar [8]. See above