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 Ceterach officinarum
PTERIDACEAE
Black 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
Foetid 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
Durmast oak Quercus petraea
Downy oak Quercus pubescens
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
Basil-leaved pellitory Parietaria judaica
SANTALACEAE
Poet’s-cassia Osyris alba
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE
Labillardiere’s birthwort Aristolochia billardieri
Tall birthwort Aristolochia altissima
Moorish birthwort Aristolochia maurorum
Small-leaved birthwort Aristolochia parvifolia
Roughish birthwort Aristolochia scabridula
Party-coloured birthwort Aristolochia paecilantha
Botta’s birthwort Aristolochia bottae
POLYGONACEAE
Common knotweed Polygonum aviculare
Amphibious knotweed Polygonum amphibium
Pale knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
Willow-leaved knotweed Polygonum salicifolium
Horsetail knotweed Polygonum equisetiforme
Redshank Polygonum persicaria
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 Emex spinosa
Rhubarb Rheum ribes
AMARANTHACEAE
Greek amaranth Amaranthus graecizans
Dwarf copperleaf Alternanthera sessilis
Sea-purslane Atriplex halimus
Sea-blite Suaeda fruticosa
Saltwort Salsola vermiculata
Wild beet Beta vulgaris
Notchweed Chenopodium vulvaria
White goosefoot Chenopodium album
Grey goosefoot Chenopodium opulifolium
Sticky goosefoot Chenopodium botrys
Wall goosefoot Chenopodium murale
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
Turban buttercup Ranunculus asiaticus
Windflower Anemone coronaria
Traveller’s joy Clematis vitalba
Oriental larkspur Consolida orientalis
Dolphin-flower Delphinium peregrinum
BERBERIDACEAE
Lebanon barberry Berberis libanotica
PLATANACEAE
Oriental plane Platanus orientalis
LAURACEAE
Laurel Laurus nobilis
PAPAVERACEAE
Field poppy Papaver rhoeas
Fumewort Corydalis solida
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 Sinapis arvensis
White mustard Sinapis alba
Hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale
London rocket Sisymbrium irio
Spreading treacle-mustard Erysimum repandum
Wallflower Cheiranthus 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 hirsute
Shield fibigia Fibigia clypeata
Field pennycress Thlaspi arvense
Cotswold pennycress Thlaspi perfoliatum
Field yellowcress Rorippa arvensis
Cress-rocket Carrichtera annua
Yellow fieldcress Rorippa arvensis
Wild radish Raphanus raphanistrum
Sharp-lobed candytuft Iberis odorata
Towercress Arabis 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 Sedum sediforme
GROSSULARIACEAE
Oriental currant Ribes orientale
ROSACEAE
Holy bramble Rubus ulmifolius
Hill bramble Rubus collinus
Edible-fruited bramble Rubus bifrons
Azarole Crataegus azarolus
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Coinwort cotoneaster Cotoneaster nummularia
Lebanese wild apple Malus trilobata
Korshinsky’s almond Prunus korshinskyi
Field almond Prunus agrestis
Mountain cherry Prunus prostrate
Small-fruited cherry Prunus microcarpa
Mahaleb cherry Prunus mahaleb
Bear plum Prunus ursina
Wild service-tree Sorbus torminalis
Syrian pear Pyrus syriaca
Wild rose Rosa canina
Sweet briar Rosa glutinosa
Scarlet firethorn Pyracantha coccinea
Field lady’s-mantle Alchemilla arvensis
Common agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria
European cinquefoil Potentilla reptans
Trailing cinquefoil Potentilla supina
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
CAESALPINIACEAE
Judas tree Cercis siliquastrum
Carob Ceratonia siliqua
FABACEAE
Tragacanth Astragalus gummifer
Hedgehog milk-vetch Astragalus echinus
Hooked milk-vetch Astragalus hamosus
Large-fruited milk-vetch Astragalus macrocarpus
Narrow-leaved milk-vetch Astragalus angustifolius
Spiny milk-vetch Astragalus spinosus
Pinewood milk-vetch 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 Psoralea 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
Crown-vetch Coronilla varia
Lebanon crown-vetch Coronilla libanotica
Birdsfoot-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 hispida
Black medick Medicago lupulina
Bur medick Medicago lappacea
Prickly liquorice Glycyrhhiza echinata
Sweet-vetch Hedysarum coelesyriacum
Spanish broom Spartium junceum
Syrian broom Cytisus syriacus
White broom Retama raetam
Lebanon needle furze Genista libanotica
OXALIDACEAE
Yellow wood-sorrel Oxalis corniculata
GERANIACEAE
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum
Cut-leaved crane’s-bill Geranium dissectum
Shining crane’s-bill Geranium lucidum
Dove’s-foot crane’s-bill Geranium molle
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
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
Jerusalem croton Chrozophora hierosolymitana
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
Turpentine Pistacia atlantica
Elm-leaved sumach Rhus coriaria
ACERACEAE
Syrian maple Acer obtusifolium
Hermon maple Acer hyrcanum
ELAEAGNACEAE
Oleaster Elaeagnus angustifolia
RHAMNACEAE
Garland thorn Paliurus spina-christi
Common jujube Ziziphus jujuba
Purging buckthorn Rhamnus catharticus
Italian buckthorn Rhamnus alaternus
VITACEAE
Grape-vine Vitis vinifera
MALVACEAE
Common mallow Malva sylvestris
Round-leaved mallow Malva neglecta
Small-flowered mallow Malva parviflora
French mallow Malva nicaeensis
Tree mallow Lavatera trimestris
Common marshmallow Althaea officinalis
HYPERICACEAE
St. John’s-wort Hypericum perforatum
VIOLACEAE
Wood violet Viola odorata
Dog violet Viola riviniana
CISTACEAE
Yellow sun-rose Helianthemum nummularium
Spotted rock-rose Tuberaria guttata
CUCURBITACEAE
Squirting cucumber Ecballium elaterium
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
Common bishop’s-weed Ammi majus
Toothpick-weed Ammi visnaga
Common dill Anethum graveolens
Poison 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
Hare’s-ear Bupleurum fruticosum
Common fennel Foeniculum vulgare
Tangier giant-fennel Ferula tingitana
Cretan sea-holly Eryngium creticum
Scalloped heptaptera Heptaptera crenata
Cretan scaligeria Scaligeria cretica
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 angustifolium
Lebanon prickly-thrift Acantholimon libanoticum
Antilebanon prickly-thrift Acantholimon antilibanoticum
Gorse prickly-thrift Acantholimon ulicinum
Wavy thrift Armeria undulata
OLEACEAE
Olive Olea europeaea
Yellow jasmine Jasminum fruticans
Syrian ash Fraxinus angustifolia
Flowering 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 Lithospermum arvense
Blunt-leaved monkswort Nonea obtusifolia
Hairy heliotrope Heliotropium hirsutissimum
Palestine comfrey Symphytum palaestinum
VERBENACEAE
Lilac chaste-tree Vitex agnus-castus
LAMIACEAE
Water mint Mentha aquatica
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium
Dead-nettle Lamium maculatum
French lavender Lavandula stoechas
Common rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
Syrian marjoram Origanum syriacum
Decussate thyme Thymus decussatus
Conehead thyme Thymus capitatus
Summer savory Satureja thymbra
Linear-leaved savory Micromeria juliana
Viscous phlomis Phlomis viscosa
Long-leaved phlomis Phlomis longifolia
Kurdish phlomis Phlomis kurdica
Cut-leaved phlomis Eremostachys laciniata
Water germander Teucrium scordium
Felty germander Teucrium polium
White-horehound Marrubium vulgare
Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus
Eastern bugle Ajuga orientalis
Shrubby sage Salvia fruticosa
Many-stemmed sage Salvia multicaulis
Clary Salvia sclarea
Wild clary Salvia verbenaca
Field woundwort Stachys arvensis
Wood betony Stachys officinalis
Common self-heal Prunella vulgaris
Lesser calamint Clinopodium nepeta
Syrian catmint Nepeta curviflora
Catnip Nepeta cataria
ERICACEAE
Spray-flowered heath Erica manipuliflora
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 berytheum
Sinai mullein Verbascum sinaiticum
Sinuate mullein Verbascum sinuatum
ACANTHACEAE
Bear’s-breeches Acanthus syriacus
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
Laurestine Viburnum tinus
Wild teasel Dipsacus fullonum
Giant scabious Cephalaria syriaca
Scabious Scabiosa intermedia
CAMPANULACEAE
Rampion bellflower Campanula rapunculus
ASTERACEAE
Wild chamomile Anthemis cotula
Mayweed Matricaria chamomilla
Red star-thistle Centaurea calcitrapa
Yellow star-thistle Centaurea solstitialis
Iberian knapweed Centaurea iberica
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 plumeless thistle Carduus pycnocephalus
Spear thistle Cirsium vulgare
Carline-thistle Carlina curetum
Blessed-thistle Cnicus benedictus
Cotton-thistle Onopordum carduiforme
Globe-thistle Echinops spinosissimus
Field cottonrose Filago arvensis
Broadleaf cottonrose Filago pyramidata
White wormwood Artemisia herba-alba
Yarrow Achillea fragrantissima
Prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola
Saw-wort Serratula pusilla
Milk thistle Silybum marianum
Woody fleabane Dittrichia viscosa
Pluchea Pluchea dioscoridis
Stinking hawkweed Crepis foetida
Labillardiere’s hawkweed Hieracium labillardierei
Common chicory Cichorium intybus
Goldenrod Solidago glabra
Rush skeletonweed Chondrilla juncea
Common saw-thistle Sonchus oleraceus
Spiny saw-thistle Sonchus asper
Slender saw-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
Oriental scariola Scariola orientalis
Hemp-agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum
Spiny burweed Xanthium spinosum
Prickly burweed Xanthium echinatum
LILIACEAE
Wild leek Allium ampeloprasum
Wild garlic Allium vineale
Daffodil garlic Allium neapolitanum
Oriental hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis
Grape-hyacinth Muscari negelctum
Common asphodel Asphodelus microcarpus
AMARYLLIDACEAE
Daffodil Narcissus serotinus
IRIDACEAE
Sword-lily Gladiolus segetum
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 boeoticum
False oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius
Club-grass Corynephorus articulatus
Couch-grass Elymus repens
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 Stipa parviflora
Meadow fescue Festuca pratensis
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
Melick Melica ciliate
Winter rye-grass Lolium perenne
Darnel rye-grass Lolium temulentum
Common coach-grass Agropyron repens
Wire-grass Cynodon dactylon
Panic-grass Panicum repens
Timothy-grass Phleum arenarium
Millet-grass Paspalum paspaloides
Fountain-grass Pennisetum setaceum
Ravenna-grass Saccharum ravennae
Johnson-grass Sorghum halepense
Thatching-grass Hyparrhenia hirta
Reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea
Reed Phragmites australis
ARACEAE
Spotted arum Arum dioscorides
TYPHACEAE
Common bulrush Typha latifolia
Lesser bulrush Typha angustifolia
CYPERACEAE
Bracteate marsh-sedge Carex divisa
Great club-rush Scirpus lacustris
ORCHIDACEAE
Lizard orchid Himantoglossum caprinum