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Sand Lily (Pancreatium Maritimum)
The "Pancreatium maritimum" (Sand Lily), believed to be the "Rose of Sharon" of the "Song of Solomon", has been known to grow on Israel's shores since ancient times. It blooms in late summer and early autumn when its bright, slender flowers can be found on the dunes along Israel's coast; they open up towards evening, when a cool breeze from the sea blows their strong, intoxicating scent, across the plain.
No wonder the composer of that classic love song, the "Song of Solomon," chose this flower as a fitting comparison when describing his beloved.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera Drummondi)
The story of Oenothera Drummondi (Evening Primrose) in Israel, is more prosaic; it is not actually a native of this country but was brought here accidentally sometime towards the end of the last century from its native Texas in the U.S.A.
We may picture just how that came about when we assume that perhaps one windy afternoon a steamer dropped anchor at Jaffa (Yafo). It was probably a small vessel, as large ones hardly ever called at this ancient port, which in those days was one of the less important of the former Turkish Empire. After discharging her cargo, cotton or wheat, she again left on her way. The bales or bags, packed in Texas, may well have contained some seeds of the Evening Primrose.
Lying on the quay of the harbor the moist wind may have taken them up and blown them across the dunes. In this way the flower happened to come to this country; a "new immigrant" indeed.
