Kalanit
Israel Plant Magazine
November 2014
Professional-macroscopic photography of wild plants, as a means for research and identification
Oz Golan, The Center for Materials Engineering and Processes, Afeka College for Engineering in Tel-Aviv. golanoz.me@gmail.com
Keywords: macroscopic characterization, microscopic characterization, microscopy, professional photography
The macroscopic characterization of plants is an important botanical auxiliary tool for becoming familiar with the biology of the plant on the one hand, and as a means for identification and definition on the other hand. The wonderful world of flowers is revealed, with its abundance of micro-structures, shades and forms, and assists us, from the scientific vantage point, to better understand the reproduction mechanisms in the flower.
The effect of nature conservation management on the flowering of the Wild Peony (Paeonia mascula) in the Mount Meron Nature Reserve
Gidi Ne’eman, Department of Biology and environment, University of Haifa-Oranim, Rivon, Israel. gneeman@gmail.com
Keywords: conservation, active management, passive management, Mediterranean maquis, succession, endangered species, flag species
The Mount Meron Nature Reserve is the largest Mediterranean reserve in Israel. Since its creation, goat grazing and the felling of trees have been prohibited, and a dense oak maquis has developed by succession. The succession of vegetation poses the risk of losing species. The Wild Peony (Paeonia mascula) is an endangered species in Israel, with a small population in the Mount Meron Nature Reserve, with only 5% of the plants flowering. We sought methods of increasing the flowering percentage in order to secure the future of its population. We found that flowering Wild Peonies grew mainly in locations with around 47% direct sun radiation, while most plants grew under heavy shade with only 27% direct radiation. The creation of small gaps increased flowering to 15–20%. To ensure the future of the Peonies in the Mount Meron Nature Reserve, small gaps must be created, even if this clashes with broader current management policies.
Archeological finds prove that Wheat Rust can spread in crops at the rate of an epidemic
Mordechai Kislev, Department of Archeological Botany, Bar-Ilan University. mordechai.kislev@biu.ac.il
A new discovery by a researcher from Bar-Ilan University emerges from archeological finds, and proves that Wheat Rust, which spreads in crops, can develop at the speed of an epidemic. The difficult and catastrophic phenomenon of the rapid spread of the disease can lead to the loss of a crop within a season.
The transition belt of Jerusalem, Binyamin and Judea
Avi Shmida, the Department of Evolution, Systematics and Behavior, and the Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Givat Ram. avi.shmida@gmail.com
Mimi Ron, Erga Aloni, Gadi Pollak participated in the preparation of the text.
Keywords: Israeli plant, Kalanit study tour, phenology
The Kalanit study tour on 27 November, 2014 focused on the transition belt of Jerusalem, Binyamin and Judea, following an early, rainy winter system, but a poor flowering season. The plants that were conspicuous in their flowers during the study tour were Tuvia's Autumn Crocus (Colchicum tuviae) in Mishor Edumim, Lac Sumach (Rhus tripartita) in Ein Mabua, and Large Sternbergia (Sterbergia clusiana) in Ma'ale Rehav'am.
A trip to the Hula Valley in the early 1930s
Uri Rosenberg, agron@netvision.net.il
Keywords: wetland, window to the past, plant uses
Which plants used to grow in the Hula Lake and the Hula Swamp in the 1930s, around 20 years before it was drained? what were the names of these plants at the time, and how can we identify them today? How did the local inhabitants of the Hula Valley use the wild swamp plants? And what did the members of a mission, which toured the Hula Valley, think of the draining?
