The LEXICON LEPIDOPTEROPHYTA Version 1.7 is the scientific catalogue of native Lebanese lepidopterophytes, a fancy way of saying Lebanese “butterfly and moth plants.” The majority of lepidopterans subsist on plants, either developing on them or feeding off them. These plants consist of larval host plants (LHPs), that is, “host plants,” “food plants,” and also nectar source plants (NSPs), simply “nectar plants.” The host plant maintains the presence of the butterfly and moth and is where they develop and where caterpillars eat, typically the leaves. The nectar plant, on the other hand, attracts these lepidopterans with nectar, a primary source of food and high energy drink. There are hundreds of native lepidopterophytes in Lebanon. Why are these plants important? Native plants not only represent the land’s native flora, they also contain lots of nectar, tolerate local environmental conditions and temperature extremes, and are usually not invasive. Many of these plants, such as oaks, conifers, poplars, willows, wild fruit trees, and others, are also prominent forest and woodland trees. Many, such as umbellifers and crucifers, are also farmland plants, while some such as legumes and grasses, are rangeland species and nitrogen-fixers. Many are also aromatic and have medicinal properties, and are melliferous and important for bees and other pollinators. Threats, such as habitat loss, habitat degradation, deforestation, agricultural expansion and abandonment, climate change, overcollection, overgrazing, herbicide use, invasive species, and genetically-modified plants, that effect these native plants will also effect native butterflies and moths. That’s why butterfly gardening, when carried out with native plants, and when connected with responsible farming and agroforestry practices, and with sustainable and traditional grazing levels, is a type of ecorestoration and is what SPNL is encouraging. The LEXICON, the online version of Butterfly Plants of Lebanon, a later SPNL publication, is therefore a reference for enthusiastic Lebanese butterfly gardeners and butterfly “farmers.” There are harvesting, planting, and growing instructions, photographs, and other resources, with each click. New species are added whenever evident from the literature.

 

• Butterfly Plants of Lebanon: A Summary (PowerPoint) Click here

 

NATIVE LEBANESE LEPIDOPTEROPHYTES

 

ASPLENIACEAE

Miltwaste Asplenium officinarum

PTERIDACEAE

Maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris

PINACEAE

Stone pine Pinus pinea

Aleppo pine Pinus halepensis

Calabrian pine Pinus brutia

Lebanon cedar Cedrus libani

Taurus fir Abies cilicica

CUPRESSACEAE

Cypress Cupressus sempervirens

Prickly juniper Juniperus oxycedrus

Greek juniper Juniperus excelsa

Stinking juniper Juniperus foetidissima

Phoenician juniper Juniperus phoenicea

Syrian juniper Juniperus drupacea

SALICACEAE

White willow Salix alba

White poplar Populus alba

Black poplar Populus nigra

European aspen Populus tremula

JUGLANDACEAE

English walnut Juglans regia

FAGACEAE

Turkey oak Quercus cerris

Kermes oak Quercus calliprinos

Cyprus oak Quercus infectoria

Holm oak Quercus ilex

Italian oak Quercus pubescens

Durmast oak Quercus petraea

BETULACEAE

Oriental alder Alnus orientalis

ULMACEAE

Lesser elm Ulmus minor

European nettle tree Celtis australis

MORACEAE

White mulberry Morus alba

Common fig Ficus carica

URTICACEAE

Common nettle Urtica dioica

Small nettle Urtica urens

Roman nettle Urtica pilulifera

Sandwort-leaved pellitory Parietaria alsinifolia

Spreading pellitory Parietaria judaica

SANTALACEAE

Poet’s cassia Osyris alba

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE

Labillardiere’s birthwort Aristolochia billardieri

Tall birthwort Aristolochia sempervirens

Moorish birthwort Aristolochia maurorum

Small-leaved birthwort Aristolochia parvifolia

Roughish birthwort Aristolochia scabridula

Party-coloured birthwort Aristolochia paecilantha

Botta’s birthwort Aristolochia bottae

POLYGONACEAE

Water knotweed Persicaria amphibia

Slender knotweed Persicaria decipiens

Redshank Persicaria maculosa

Common knotweed Polygonum aviculare

Pale knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium

Horsetail knotweed Polygonum equisetiforme

Labillardiere’s atraphaxis Atraphaxis billardieri

Mountain sorrel Oxyria digyna

Field sorrel Rumex acetosella

Yellow dock Rumex crispus

Sharp dock Rumex conglomeratus

Red dock Rumex bucephalophorus

Fiddle dock Rumex pulcher

Herb patience Rumex patientia

Spiny dock Rumex spinosa

Syrian rhubarb Rheum ribes

AMARANTHACEAE

Greek amaranth Amaranthus graecizans

Dwarf copperleaf Alternanthera sessilis

Sea-purslane Atriplex halimus

Sea-blite Suaeda fruticosa

Sea beet Beta vulgaris

Wall goosefoot Chenopodiastrum murale

Stinking goosefoot Chenopodium vulvaria

White goosefoot Chenopodium album

Grey goosefoot Chenopodium opulifolium

Sticky goosefoot Dysphania botrys

Leafy goosefoot Blitum virgatum

Red goosefoot Oxybasis rubra

Upright goosefoot Oxybasis urbica

MOLLUGINACEAE

Lote sweetjuice Glinus lotoides

PORTULACACEAE

Common purslane Portulaca oleracea

CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Wild pink Dianthus strictus

Common campion Silene gallica

Bladder campion Silene vulgaris

Large sand campion Silene conoidea

Common soapwort Saponaria officinalis

Common chickweed Stellaria media

RANUNCULACEAE

Field buttercup Ranunculus arvensis

Spiny-fruited buttercup Ranunculus muricatus

Celery-leaved buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus

Persian buttercup Ranunculus asiaticus

Spanish marigold Anemone coronaria

Traveller’s joy Clematis vitalba

Oriental larkspur Delphinium ajacis

Violet dolphin-flower Delphinium peregrinum

BERBERIDACEAE

Lebanon barberry Berberis libanotica

PLATANACEAE

Oriental plane Platanus orientalis

LAURACEAE

Grecian laurel Laurus nobilis

PAPAVERACEAE

Corn poppy Papaver rhoeas

Fumewort Corydalis triternata

CAPPARACEAE

Spiny caper Capparis spinosa

BRASSICACEAE

Field mustard Brassica rapa

Tournefort’s cabbage Brassica tournefortii

Bladder rocket-salad Eruca vesicaria

Pink mustard Erucaria hispanica

Wild mustard Mutarda arvensis

White mustard Sinapis alba

Hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale

London rocket Sisymbrium irio

Spreading treacle-mustard Erysimum repandum

Wallflower Erysimum cheiri

Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata

Tansy mustard Descurainia sophia

Hoary mustard Hirschfeldia incana

Shepherd’s-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris

Woad Isatis tinctoria

Hairy bittercress Cardamine hirsuta

Shield fibigia Fibigia clypeata

Field pennycress Thlaspi arvense

Cotswold pennycress Noccaea perfoliata

Yellow fieldcress Rorippa sylvestris

Cress-rocket Carrichtera annua

Wild radish Raphanus raphanistrum

Sharp-lobed candytuft Iberis odorata

Towercress Pseudoturritis turrita

Lebanon rockcress Aubrieta libanotica

Dame’s-rocket Hesperis pendula

Virginia stock Malcolmia maritima

Colewort Crambe orientalis

Wild rocket Diplotaxis tenuifolia

Broad-leaved pepperwort Lepidium latifolium

Hoary cress Lepidium draba

Sweet alyssum Lobularia maritima

Common watercress Nasturtium officinale

RESEDACEAE

Yellow mignonette Reseda lutea

White mignonette Reseda alba

CRASSULACEAE

White stonecrop Sedum album

Tall stonecrop Petrosedum sediforme

GROSSULARIACEAE

Oriental currant Ribes orientale

ROSACEAE

Holy bramble Rubus creticus

Tomentose bramble Rubus aetnicus

Hill bramble Rubus x collinus

Azarole Crataegus azarolus

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna

Coinwort cotoneaster Cotoneaster nummularius

Lebanese wild apple Malus trilobata

Korshinsky’s almond Prunus korshinskyi

Field almond Prunus insititia

Mountain cherry Prunus prostrata

Small-fruited cherry Prunus microcarpa

Mahaleb cherry Prunus mahaleb

Bear plum Prunus ursina

Wild service tree Aria torminalis

Syrian pear Pyrus syriaca

Wild rose Rosa canina

Cretan rose Rosa pulverulenta

Scarlet firethorn Pyracantha coccinea

Field lady’s-mantle Alchemilla arvensis

Common agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria

European cinquefoil Potentilla reptans

Trailing cinquefoil Potentilla supina

Silverweed Argentina anserina

FABACEAE

Redbud Cercis siliquastrum

Carob Ceratonia siliqua

Tragacanth Astragalus gummifer

Hedgehog milkvetch Astragalus echinus

Hooked milkvetch Astragalus hamosus

Large-fruited milkvetch Astragalus macrocarpus

Narrow-leaved milkvetch Astragalus angustifolius

Spiny milkvetch Astragalus spinosus

Pinewood milkvetch Astragalus pinetorum

Hairy canary-clover Dorycnium hirsutum

Common chickpea Cicer arietinum

Common fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum

Rattle-box silver-broom Argyrolobium crotalarioides

Camel-thorn Alhagi maurorum

Red vetchling Lathyrus cicera

Broad-leaved vetchling Lathyrus latifolius

Yellow vetchling Lathyrus aphaca

Meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis

Cyprus vetch Lathyrus ochrus

Kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria

Bitumen pea Bituminaria bituminosa

Sainfoin Onobrychis cornuta

Cock’s-comb sainfoin Onobrychis caput-galli

Common melilot Melilotus officinalis

White melilot Melilotus albus

Indian melilot Melilotus indicus

Common horseshoe-vetch Hippocrepis unisiliquosa

Spiny restharrow Ononis spinosa

Purple crownvetch Coronilla varia

Lebanon crownvetch Coronilla libanotica

Bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus

Hare’s-foot clover Trifolium arvense

Red clover Trifolium pratense

White clover Trifolium repens

Subterranean clover Trifolium subterraneum

Bladder clover Trifolium physodes

Common vetch Vicia sativa

Slender-leaved vetch Vicia tenuifolia

Hairy vetch Vicia hirsuta

Hoary vetch Vicia canescens

Bitter vetch Vicia ervilia

Winter vetch Vicia villosa

Moor’s pea Vicia narbonensis

Thorny broom Calicotome villosa

Bladder senna Colutea cilicica

Yellow medick Medicago falcata

Hispid medick Medicago polymorpha

Black medick Medicago lupulina

Prickly liquorice Glycyrhhiza echinata

Sweet vetch Hedysarum coelesyriacum

Spanish broom Spartium junceum

Syrian broom Genista monspessulana

Lebanon broom Genista libanotica

White broom Retama raetam

OXALIDACEAE

Yellow wood-sorrel Oxalis corniculata

GERANIACEAE

Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum

Cut-leaved crane’s-bill Geranium dissectum

Shining crane’s-bill Geranium lucidum

Mountain crane’s-bill Geranium pyrenaicum

Round-leaved crane’s-bill Geranium rotundifolium

Tuberous crane’s-bill Geranium tuberosum

Ashy crane’s-bill Geranium cinereum

Common stork’s-bill Erodium cicutarium

Trichomanes-leaved stork’s-bill Erodium trichomanifolium

ZYGOPHYLLACEAE

Syrian bean-caper Zygophyllum fabago

Puncture vine Tribulus terrestris

LINACEAE

Downy flax Linum pubescens

EUPHORBIACEAE

Sun spurge Euphorbia helioscopia

Sea spurge Euphorbia paralias

Spiny spurge Euphorbia erinacea

Petty spurge Euphorbia peplus

Purple spurge Euphorbia peplis

Aleppo spurge Euphorbia aleppica

Bastard sedum Andrachne telephioides

Dyer’s croton Chrozophora tinctoria

Castor oil plant Ricinus communis

Annual mercury Mercurialis annua

RUTACEAE

Fringed rue Ruta chalepensis

POLYGALACEAE

Trailing milkwort Polygala supina

ANACARDIACEAE

Terebinth Pistacia palaestina

Lentisk Pistacia lentiscus

Cyprus turpentine Pistacia atlantica

Sicilian sumach Rhus coriaria

ACERACEAE

Syrian maple Acer obtusifolium

Balkan maple Acer hyrcanum

ELAEAGNACEAE

Oleaster Elaeagnus angustifolia

RHAMNACEAE

Jerusalem thorn Paliurus spina-christi

Common jujube Ziziphus jujuba

Common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica

Italian buckthorn Rhamnus alaternus

VITACEAE

Common grape vine Vitis vinifera

MALVACEAE

Common mallow Malva sylvestris

Round-leaved mallow Malva neglecta

Small-flowered mallow Malva parviflora

French mallow Malva nicaeensis

Rose mallow Malva trimestris

Common marshmallow Althaea officinalis

HYPERICACEAE

St. John’s-wort Hypericum perforatum

VIOLACEAE

Wood violet Viola odorata

Dog violet Viola riviniana

CISTACEAE

Common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium

Spotted rock-rose Tuberaria guttata

CUCURBITACEAE

Squirting cucumber Ecballium elaterium

Many-flowered bryony Bryonia multiflora

LYTHRACEAE

Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

MYRTACEAE

Common myrtle Myrtus communis

PUNICACEAE

Pomegranate Punica granatum

ONAGRACEAE

Great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum

CORNACEAE

Common dogwood Cornus sanguinea

ARALIACEAE

English ivy Hedera helix

APIACEAE

Wild carrot Daucus carota

Wild celery Apium graveolens

Bishop’s-weed Ammi majus

Toothpick-weed Visnaga daucoides

Common dill Anethum graveolens

Hemlock Conium maculatum

Coriander Coriandrum sativum

Rock samphire Crithmum maritimum

Common longleaf Falcaria vulgaris

Curled parsley Petroselinum crispum

Corn parsley Ridolfia segetum

Cow parsley Anthriscus nemorosa

Shrubby hare’s-ear Bupleurum fruticosum

Common fennel Foeniculum vulgare

Tangier giant-fennel Ferula tingitana

Field eryngo Eryngium creticum

Scalloped heptaptera Heptaptera crenata

Cretan scaligeria Scaligeria napiformis

Rushy sulphurwort Peucedanum junceum

Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella peregrina

PRIMULACEAE

Common primrose Primula vulgaris

Lebanon cyclamen Cyclamen libanoticum

PLUMBAGINACEAE

Common leadwort Plumbago europaea

Narrow-leaved sea-lavender Limonium narbonense

Lebanon prickly-thrift Acantholimon libanoticum

Antilebanon prickly-thrift Acantholimon antilibanoticum

Gorse prickly-thrift Acantholimon ulicinum

Wavy thrift Armeria undulata

OLEACEAE

Olive Olea europeaea

Wild jasmine Jasminum fruticans

Syrian ash Fraxinus angustifolia

Balkan ash Fraxinus ornus

APOCYNACEAE

Oleander Nerium oleander

RUBIACEAE

Common madder Rubia tinctorum

Field woodruff Asperula arvensis

Bedstraw Galium aparine

Yellow bedstraw Galium verum

BORAGINACEAE

Common borage Borago officinalis

Italian viper’s-bugloss Echium italicum

Sky-blue bugloss Anchusa azurea

Oriental alkanet Alkanna orientalis

Bearded maiden’s-lip Lappula barbata

Strict forget-me-not Myosotis stricta

Field gromwell Buglossoides arvensis

Blunt-leaved monkswort Nonea obtusifolia

Hairy heliotrope Heliotropium hirsutissimum

Palestine comfrey Symphytum palaestinum

LAMIACEAE

Lilac chaste-tree Vitex agnus-castus

Water mint Mentha aquatica

Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium

Purple dragon Lamium maculatum

French lavender Lavandula stoechas

Syrian marjoram Origanum syriacum

Conehead thyme Thymbra capitata

Summer savory Satureja thymbra

Linear-leaved savory Micromeria juliana

Viscous Jerusalem sage Phlomis viscosa

Long-leaved Jerusalem sage Phlomis longifolia

Kurdish Jerusalem sage Phlomis kurdica

Cut-leaved Jerusalem sage Phlomoides laciniata

Water germander Teucrium scordium

Felty germander Teucrium capitatum

White-horehound Marrubium vulgare

Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus

Eastern bugle Ajuga orientalis

Common rosemary Salvia rosmarinus

Shrubby sage Salvia fruticosa

Many-stemmed sage Salvia multicaulis

Clary Salvia sclarea

Wild clary Salvia verbenaca

Field woundwort Stachys arvensis

Common self-heal Prunella vulgaris

Lesser calamint Clinopodium nepeta

Syrian catmint Nepeta curviflora

Catnip Nepeta cataria

ERICACEAE

Spray-flowered heath Erica manipuliflora

Common rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum

Common strawberry-tree Arbutus unedo

Greek strawberry-tree Arbutus andrachne

CONVOLVULACEAE

Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis

Trailing bindweed Convolvulus tricolor

Lebanon bindweed Convolvulus libanoticus

Dwarf bindweed Convolvulus cantabrica

Scammony Convolvulus scammonia

SOLANACEAE

White henbane Hyoscyamus albus

Black nightshade Solanum nigrum

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Lebanon figwort Scrophularia libanoticum

Field speedwell Veronica arvensis

Ivy-leaved speedwell Veronica hederifolia

Grey speedwell Veronica polita

Water pimpernel Veronica anagallis-aquatica

Brooklime Veronica beccabunga

Oriental anarrhinum Anarrhinum orientale

Narrow-leaved snapdragon Antirrhinum majus

Lesser snapdragon Misopates orontium

Field toadflax Linaria arvensis

Beirut mullein Verbascum beryteum

Sinai mullein Verbascum sinaiticum

Sinuate mullein Verbascum sinuatum

ACANTHACEAE

Bear’s-breeches Acanthus hirsutus

PLANTAGINACEAE

Greater plantain Plantago major

Ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata

Rusty foxglove Digitalis ferruginea

VALERIANACEAE

Red spur-valerian Centranthus ruber

Long-flowered spur-valerian Centranthus longiflorus

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Dwarf elder Sambucus ebulus

Black elder Sambucus nigra

Etruscan honeysuckle Lonicera etrusca

Nummular-leaved honeysuckle Lonicera nummulariifolia

Laurustine Viburnum tinus

Wild teasel Dipsacus fullonum

Syrian scabious Cephalaria syriaca

Intermediate scabious Pycnocomon intermedia

CAMPANULACEAE

Rampion bellflower Campanula rapunculus

ASTERACEAE

Stinking chamomile Anthemis cotula

Scented mayweed Matricaria chamomilla

Red star-thistle Centaurea calcitrapa

Yellow star-thistle Centaurea solstitialis

Iberian knapweed Centaurea iberica

Blessed thistle Centaurea benedicta

Red everlasting Helichrysum sanguineum

Field marigold Calendula arvensis

Safflower Carthamus glaucus

Crown daisy Glebionis coronaria

Corn marigold Glebionis segetum

False daisy Eclipta prostrata

Lesser burdock Arctium minor

Wild artichoke Cynara cardunculus

Italian thistle Carduus pycnocephalus

Spear thistle Cirsium vulgare

Carline thistle Carlina curetum

Cotton thistle Onopordum carduiforme

Globe thistle Echinops spinosissimus

Field cottonrose Filago arvensis

Broad-leaved cottonrose Filago pyramidata

White wormwood Artemisia herba-alba

Yarrow Achillea fragrantissima

Prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola

Oriental lettuce Lactuca orientalis

Saw-wort Serratula pusilla

Milk thistle Silybum marianum

Woody fleabane Dittrichia viscosa

Dioscorides’ pluchea Pluchea dioscoridis

Stinking hawkweed Crepis foetida

Labillardiere’s hawkweed Hieracium schmidtii

Common chicory Cichorium intybus

Tall goldenrod Solidago gigantea

Gum succory Chondrilla juncea

Common sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus

Spiny sow-thistle Sonchus asper

Slender sow-thistle Sonchus tenerrimus

Common fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica

Common groundsel Senecio vulgaris

Common tansy Tanacetum parthenium

Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara

Common dandelion Taraxacum officinale

Viper’s-grass Scorzonera judaica

Hemp-agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum

Spiny burweed Xanthium spinosum

Prickly burweed Xanthium orientale

LILIACEAE

Wild leek Allium ampeloprasum

Wild garlic Allium vineale

Daffodil garlic Allium neapolitanum

Garden hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis

Grape-hyacinth Muscari negelctum

Pink asphodel Asphodelus fistulosus

AMARYLLIDACEAE

Autumn daffodil Narcissus obsoletus

IRIDACEAE

Common sword-lily Gladiolus segetum

Palestine iris Iris palaestina

JUNCACEAE

Soft rush Juncus effusus

POACEAE

Common meadow-grass Poa pratensis

Annual meadow-grass Poa annua

Wood meadow-grass Poa nemoralis

Rough meadow-grass Poa trivialis

Wild barley Hordeum vulgare

Wild wheat Triticum monococcum

False oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius

Club-grass Corynephorus articulatus

Couch-grass Elymus repens

Rigid brome Bromus rigidus

Heath false-brome Brachypodium pinnatum

Wood false-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum

Velvet-grass Holcus lanatus

Bearded feather-grass Stipa barbata

Small-flowered feather-grass Stipellula parviflora

Meadow fescue Festuca ovina

Volga fescue Festuca valesiaca

Hair-grass Aira elegans

Bent-grass Agrostis stolonifera

Feather reed-grass Calamagrostis epigejos

Foxtail Alopecurus myosuroides

Sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum

Orchard-grass Dactylis glomerata

Winter rye-grass Lolium perenne

Darnel rye-grass Lolium temulentum

Coach-grass Agropyron repens

Wire-grass Cynodon dactylon

Panic-grass Panicum repens

Timothy-grass Phleum arenarium

Millet-grass Paspalum distichum

Fountain-grass Cenchrus setaceum

Ravenna-grass Tripidium ravennae

Johnson-grass Sorghum halepense

Thatching-grass Hyparrhenia hirta

Reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea

Common reed Phragmites australis

ARACEAE

Spotted arum Arum dioscorides

TYPHACEAE

Common bulrush Typha latifolia

Lesser bulrush Typha angustifolia

CYPERACEAE

Common club-rush Schoenoplectus lacustris

ORCHIDACEAE

Lizard orchid Himantoglossum caprinum