A rescue garden for endangered plants
A rescue garden for endangered plants
The Rescue Garden that stands at the beginning of the route, in the heart of the grain fields, comes to illustrate the commandment given to the first man in the Garden of Eden - to serve and preserve. Its purpose is to preserve the endangered plants of the Land of Israel for future generations. Rare and endangered plants were brought to this garden from all parts of the country and they are planted according to the geographical pattern of the Land of Israel, from south to north. (The pool and the water channel symbolize the vegetation of the Jordan and the Hula. In the center of the mountain area and near the western gate – the vegetation of the Negev and the South)
What is a rare species, and when is it in danger?
A species can become rare when its populations are getting smaller, or when its distribution is extremely limited. That is, even when the species lives in thousands of sites, but in each site its population is small, it is considered rare, but even if it is found in only one site and the population size is many thousands of individuals, it is considered rare. The combination of the two (small populations in few sites), strengthens the rarity of the species. There is no agreement among ecologists in the world regarding the definition of rarity.
Why save?
On the surface of the earth there are millions of species of microorganisms, fungi, plants and animals, which together create different and diverse living environments. The diversity of species is essential for human existence since it supports all life systems and provides humans with important existential services such as: agriculture, biological control, cleaning the air, Medicine, food, fuel, water purification and more, in addition to the cultural and pleasure services we derive from the nature around us. We do not know today what other properties exist in plants that will benefit us in the long run. For example, in cancer research, in the improvement of varieties and the like.
Introduction to three plants in the garden:
The plant is an upright biennial or perennial plant, branching from its base. The entire plant is hairy, its hairiness is fine and soft compared to the bristles typical of the rest of its family. Its height is up to 80 cm. Rare. A giant blush blooms from April to June. The flowering is abundant. The flower is yellow, dangling, 2 cm long, about a quarter of its width.Grown in the book of the Mediterranean region, mainly in Samaria, very little also in other regions in the center of the country. Grows on the edges of fields, in deep brown alluvial soil. Its global distribution extends to the eastern Mediterranean countries.
A large perennial plant from the Salvia genus
Grown in Israel only in the Galilee and the Golan. Blooms with impressive, blue, pink, or white blooms in the months of May and June. Its global distribution extends in the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia.
Research led by Prof. Nativ Dodai from the Volcanic Institute, revealed that the oil extracted from the seeds of the plant contains 50% omega-3 fatty acids.
Descriptions of its medical properties already appear in the writings of ancient naturalists. Its seeds are covered with a layer of mucus, and they used to place them on the eyes when a foreign bone entered them, so that it would stick to it.
The oil is used in the perfume and liqueur industry. In addition to being a reliable and effective source of Omega 3, tests continue to establish information on the degree of effectiveness of sage oil in other areas such as inflammatory diseases and psoriasis.
A perennial plant from the family of the Nymphaeaceae
A nymph is a nature goddess in Greek mythology. Nymphaea is the name of a sacred plant in different cultures: ancient Egypt, India, the Maya in Central America.In the genus Nymphaea there are 50 species, in Israel 2, and there is a meeting between two species representing two different world regions: one species of northern origin and one of southern origin. Its northern origin, its global distribution is extensive in the Mediterranean countries, and from them far to the north and east.The plant is rare in Israel, on the verge of extinction. Used to grow in suitable bodies of water on the coastal plain and in the north of the Jordan Valley, most of them have become extinct. The plant was returned from individuals kept in the botanical garden of Tel Aviv University.