Naples Garlic (Meshulash) on Gilboa Mountain

Naples Garlic (Allium neapolitanum) is common throughout the mountains of the Mediterranean, where it is especially quick to colonize disturbed soils. After the indiscriminate firing of Hezbollah's incendiary rockets sparked forest fires in Northern Gallilee, Allium neapolitanum was the first to bloom again on these so-called Katyusha burns. Although traditionally grouped together with lilies, the Alliums (including garlic, onion, leeks, and chives) are now considered a distinct family, Alliaceae. Naples Garlic is called Meshulash, or "three-sided", in Hebrew, because its stem is triangular in cross-section. Gilboa Mountains, where this picture was taken, were famously cursed by King David after King Saul's three sons were slain in battle with the Philistines at its slopes, and King Saul himself fell on his sword. The curse was that no rain nor dew shall ever fall on the accursed hills, but after 3 millennia it must have worn thin, because today Gilboa is awash in flowers in spring. 3/18/08