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47-554: The valley is named after its indigenous trees - in Hebrew after the large and shady terebinth trees ( Pistacia atlantica , elah ), and in Arabic after the white acacia trees ( Acacia albida , sunt ). On the west side of the valley, near Socho, there is a very large and ancient terebinth tree, 55 feet (17 m) in height with a trunk 17 feet (5.2 m) in circumference and a canopy at least 75 feet (23 m) in diameter. This tree

94-613: A Judahite or Canaanite fortress. In the late 19th century, Claude Conder and Herbert Kitchener described the Elah Valley as being "one of the most fertile districts in Palestine. It is an open flat vale about half a mile across, and covered with corn; a narrow trench runs down the center full of white pebbles worn by the water in winter. Here and there large terebinths grow along its course ( Butmet Wâdy es Sûr ), and solitary oak trees ( Ballûtet Kŭssis ). On either side rise

141-478: A synonym of P. terebinthus . The terebinth is a deciduous flowering plant belonging to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae ; a small tree or large shrub , it grows to 10 m (33 ft) tall. The leaves are compound, 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) long, odd pinnate with five to eleven opposite glossy oval leaflets, the leaflets 2–6 cm (0.79–2.36 in) long and 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) broad. The flowers are reddish-purple, appearing with

188-399: A behavior known as " marcescence " whereby dead leaves are not shed in the fall and remain on the tree until being blown off by the weather. This is caused by incomplete development of the abscission layer. It is mainly seen in the seedling and sapling stage, although mature trees may have marcescence of leaves on the lower branches. A number of deciduous plants remove nitrogen and carbon from

235-540: A fortified city from the Iron Age II dated sometime between 1050 and 915 BC at Khirbet Qeiyafa , southwest of Jerusalem in the Elah Valley. The fortifications have been said to support the biblical account of the United Monarchy , the theory that Israel in the time of King David at the beginning of Iron Age II was more than simply a tribal chiefdom. Others are skeptical and suggest it might represent either

282-602: A greater rate of transpiration (and hence CO 2 uptake as this occurs when stomata are open) during the summer growth period. The deciduous characteristic has developed repeatedly among woody plants. Trees include maple , many oaks and nothofagus , elm , beech , aspen , and birch , among others, as well as a number of coniferous genera , such as larch and Metasequoia . Deciduous shrubs include honeysuckle , viburnum , and many others. Most temperate woody vines are also deciduous, including grapes , poison ivy , Virginia creeper , wisteria , etc. The characteristic

329-491: A specialty village bread. In Crete , where the plant is called tsikoudia , it is used to flavor the local variety of pomace brandy , also called tsikoudia . In the Northern Sporades the shoots are used as a vegetable (called tsitsíravla ). The plant is rich in tannins and resinous substances and was used for its aromatic and medicinal properties in classical Greece. A mild sweet scented gum can be produced from

376-606: Is a deciduous woody shrub found in Japan . Forests where a majority of the trees lose their foliage at the end of the typical growing season are called deciduous forests. These forests are found in many areas worldwide and have distinctive ecosystems, understory growth, and soil dynamics. Two distinctive types of deciduous forests are found growing around the world. Temperate deciduous forest biomes are plant communities distributed in North and South America, Asia, Southern slopes of

423-556: Is caught in the terebinth tree and is killed by Joab and his men, who were part of David's army ( 2 Samuel 18:14–15 ). At least a few references occur in Judges : chapter 4 (in reference to Heber, the Kenite, of the children of Hobab), chapter 6 (in reference to an angel of the Lord who came to visit Gideon —most versions use 'oak'), and Ch 9 (in reference to the crowning of Abimelech , by

470-571: Is compared to "ivory skilfully inlaid in [...] Orician terebinth" ( "inclusum [...] Oricia terebintho [...] ebur" ). Terebinth is referred to by Robin Lane Fox in Alexander the Great : "When a Persian king took the throne, he attended Pasargadae , site of King Cyrus 's tomb, and dressed in a rough leather uniform to eat a ritual meal of figs, sour milk and leaves of terebinth." The terebinth

517-700: Is completed (marked by the transition from bright green spring leaves to dark green summer ones) the chlorophyll level in the leaves remains stable until cool temperatures arrive in autumn. When autumn arrives and the days are shorter or when plants are drought-stressed, the chlorophyll steadily breaks down, allowing other pigments present in the leaf to become apparent and resulting in non-green colored foliage. The brightest leaf colors are produced when days grow short and nights are cool, but remain above freezing. These other pigments include carotenoids that are yellow, brown, and orange. Anthocyanin pigments produce red and purple colors, though they are not always present in

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564-400: Is formed between the leaf petiole and the stem. This layer is formed in the spring during active new growth of the leaf; it consists of layers of cells that can separate from each other. The cells are sensitive to a plant hormone called auxin that is produced by the leaf and other parts of the plant. When auxin coming from the leaf is produced at a rate consistent with that from the body of

611-787: Is found in three successive chapters of Genesis (12:6, 13:18, 14:13, 18:1) in reference to the places where Abram (later Abraham ) camped called "Terebinths of Mam're the Amorite ". Here, the traditional rendering in English is "oaks of Mamre." It is also found in Genesis chapter 35, where Jacob commands his family to remove idols that were taken as booty from the battle in Shechem before travelling to Bethel. Terebinths are also found in Isaiah in possible reference to idolatry associated with

658-553: Is mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament), where the Hebrew word elah (plural elot ) is used, although the word is sometimes translated as 'oak'. It is clear that the translators are uncertain which translation is correct, [...], yet the two are very different trees to any but the most superficial observation. (The Hebrew word alon means 'oak', and the words may be related.) The word terebinth

705-567: Is more abundant in the mountains and inland and the mastic is usually found more frequently in areas where the Mediterranean influence of the sea moderates the climate. The mastic tree does not reach the size of the Pistacia terebinthus , but the hybrids are very difficult to distinguish. The mastic has winged stalks to its leaflets, i.e., the stalks are flattened and with side fins, whereas these stems in Pistacia terebinthus are simple. On

752-471: Is notable for being one of the largest terebinths in the area, and marks the upper end of the valley. Since the early 1970s, the valley has also contained a large satellite relay station , with an antenna farm containing some 120 satellite dishes of various sizes. From 2010 to 2014, the region around the valley was believed to be threatened by shale oil extraction through the CCR ground-heating process , with

799-530: Is useful in plant identification; for instance in parts of Southern California and the American Southeast , deciduous and evergreen oak species may grow side by side. Periods of leaf fall often coincide with seasons: winter in the case of cool-climate plants or the dry-season in the case of tropical plants, however there are no deciduous species among tree-like monocotyledonous plants, e.g. palms , yuccas , and dracaenas . The hydrangea hirta

846-468: Is very aromatic, and may have multiple trunks or stems when grown as a shrub. Usually reaching 5 m (16 ft) in height, although in rare cases can reach 10 m (33 ft). P. terebinthus is one of the European species of Anacardiaceae, a family of about 600 mostly tropical species. It can be found to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level. P. terebinthus is more moisture demanding than

893-618: The turpentine tree , is a deciduous shrub species of the genus Pistacia , native to the Mediterranean region from the western regions of Morocco and Portugal to Greece and western and southeastern Turkey . At one time terebinths growing on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea (in Syria , Lebanon and Israel ) were regarded as a separate species, Pistacia palaestina , but these are now considered to be

940-598: The Green Zionist Alliance and the grassroots group Save Adullam , among others, working to stop exploitation of the region. The plan was ultimately blocked in 2014 by a zoning committee decision. In July 2019, the Elah Valley came under the Israel Nature and Parks Authority , owing largely to its historical importance and the desire to curtail the encroaching city limits of Beit Shemesh to its north. In 2009, Professor Yosef Garfinkel discovered

987-456: The dry season or other seasons, depending on variations in rainfall . The converse of deciduous is evergreen , where foliage is shed on a different schedule from deciduous plants, therefore appearing to remain green year round because not all the leaves are shed at the same time. Plants that are intermediate may be called semi-deciduous ; they lose old foliage as new growth begins. Other plants are semi-evergreen and lose their leaves before

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1034-503: The foliage before they are shed and store them in the form of proteins in the vacuoles of parenchyma cells in the roots and the inner bark. In the spring, these proteins are used as a nitrogen source during the growth of new leaves or flowers. Plants with deciduous foliage have advantages and disadvantages compared to plants with evergreen foliage. Since deciduous plants lose their leaves to conserve water or to better survive winter weather conditions, they must regrow new foliage during

1081-844: The Himalayas, Europe and for cultivation purposes in Oceania. They have formed under climatic conditions which have great seasonable temperature variability. Growth occurs during warm summers, leaf drop in autumn, and dormancy during cold winters. These seasonally distinctive communities have diverse life forms that are impacted greatly by the seasonality of their climate, mainly temperature and precipitation rates. These varying and regionally different ecological conditions produce distinctive forest plant communities in different regions. Tropical and subtropical deciduous forest biomes have developed in response not to seasonal temperature variations but to seasonal rainfall patterns. During prolonged dry periods

1128-438: The bark, and galls often found on the plant are used for tanning leather. A triterpene has been extracted from these galls. In Turkey , it is known as menengiç or bıttım . A coffee-like beverage, Kurdish coffee or menengiç kahvesi , is made from the roasted fruit, and a soap is made from the oil. Terebinth resin was used as a wine preservative in the entire ancient Near East , as proven by many findings in areas such as

1175-496: The common name in Spanish), that occur on the leaves and leaflets which have been bitten by insects. The species propagates by seeds and shoots. Although marred by the presence of galls, it is a very strong and resistant tree which survives in degraded areas where other species have been eliminated. Pistacia terebinthus is related to Pistacia lentiscus , with which it hybridizes frequently in contact zones. Pistacia terebinthus

1222-428: The earliest trees to lose their leaves in the fall. In sub-Arctic climates such as Alaska , leaves begin turning colors as early as August. However, for most temperate regions it takes place in late September through early November and in subtropical climates such as the southern US, it may be November into December. Leaf drop or abscission involves complex physiological signals and changes within plants. When leafout

1269-701: The fall months and the Western United States as it has more evergreen and fewer deciduous plants, combined with the West Coast and its maritime climate. ( See also : Autumn leaf color ) Most of the Southern Hemisphere lacks deciduous plants due to its milder winters and smaller landmass, most of which is nearer the equator with only far southern South America and the southern island of New Zealand producing distinct fall colors. The beginnings of leaf drop starts when an abscission layer

1316-528: The feminine form (to go with the feminine Greek word for resin) of an adjective τερεβίνθινος ( terebínthinos ), derived from the Greek noun τερέβινθος ( terébinthos ), the name for the terebinth tree. However, the main source of the terebinth turpentine is P. atlantica which produces abundant resin instead of P. terebinthus of which the amount of resin is limited. The fruits are used in Cyprus for baking of

1363-591: The flowers can be damaged by frost or, in dry season regions, result in water stress on the plant. Spring leafout and fall leaf drop are triggered by a combination of daylight and air temperatures. The exact conditions required will vary with the species, but generally more cold-tolerant genera such as Salix will leaf-out earlier and lose their leaves later, while genera such as Fraxinus and Juglans can only grow in warm, frost-free conditions so they need at least 13 hours of daylight and air temperatures of around 70 °F (21 °C) to leaf out. They will be among

1410-426: The foliage is dropped to conserve water and prevent death from drought. Leaf drop is not seasonally dependent as it is in temperate climates. It can occur any time of year and varies by region of the world. Even within a small local area there can be variations in the timing and duration of leaf drop; different sides of the same mountain and areas that have high water tables or areas along streams and rivers can produce

1457-481: The foot of the Zagros Mountains and Middle Bronze Age Galilee . Deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany , the term deciduous ( / d ɪ ˈ s ɪ dʒ u . ə s / ) means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves , usually in the autumn ; to the shedding of petals , after flowering; and to

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1504-417: The humid maritime climate and lower overall species diversity . It is also a factor that the continental United States and southern Canada are at a lower latitude than northern Europe, so the sun during the fall months is higher and stronger. This combination of strong sun and cool temperatures leads to more intense fall colors. The Southern United States also has poor fall colors due to warm temperatures during

1551-403: The leaves of the mastic , reminiscent of the leaves of carob tree . The flowers range from purple to green, the fruit is the size of a pea and turns from red to brown, depending on the degree of maturation. The whole plant emits a strong smell: bitter, resinous, or medicinal. In the vegetative period they develop "galls" shaped like a goat's horn (from which the plant gets the name "cornicabra",

1598-533: The leaves. Rather, they are produced in the foliage in late summer, when sugars are trapped in the leaves after the process of abscission begins. Parts of the world that have showy displays of bright autumn colors are limited to locations where days become short and nights are cool. The New England region of the United States and southeastern Canada tend to produce particularly good autumn colors for this reason, with Europe producing generally poorer colors due to

1645-492: The mastic and more resistant to cold. It requires a sunny exposure and average soils, tolerating lime and some salt, often grows near the sea, deep ravines and near salt-lakes and streams. Historian of Mycenae John Chadwick believes that the terebinth is the plant called ki-ta-no in some of the Linear B tablets. He cites the work of a Spanish scholar, J. L. Melena, who had found "an ancient lexicon which showed that kritanos

1692-607: The new leaves in early spring. The fruit consists of small, globular drupes 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long, red to black when ripe. All parts of the plant have a strong resinous smell. The terebinth is a dioecious tree, i.e. it exists as male and female specimens. For a viable population both sexes must be present. The oblong leaf is bright green, leathery, with 10 cm (3.9 in) long or more with three to nine leaflets. Leaves alternate, leathery and compound paripinnate (no terminal leaflet) with three or six deep green leaflets. They are generally larger and rounder than

1739-412: The next growing season, retaining some during winter or dry periods. Many deciduous plants flower during the period when they are leafless, as this increases the effectiveness of pollination . The absence of leaves improves wind transmission of pollen for wind-pollinated plants and increases the visibility of the flowers to insects in insect-pollinated plants. This strategy is not without risks, as

1786-783: The next suitable growing season; this uses resources which evergreens do not need to expend. Evergreens suffer greater water loss during the winter and they also can experience greater predation pressure , especially when small. Deciduous trees experience much less branch and trunk breakage from glaze ice storms when leafless, and plants can reduce water loss due to the reduction in availability of liquid water during cold winter days. Losing leaves in winter may reduce damage from insects; repairing leaves and keeping them functional may be more costly than just losing and regrowing them. Removing leaves also reduces cavitation which can damage xylem vessels in plants. This then allows deciduous plants to have xylem vessels with larger diameters and therefore

1833-469: The plant, the cells of the abscission layer remain connected; in autumn, or when under stress, the auxin flow from the leaf decreases or stops, triggering cellular elongation within the abscission layer. The elongation of these cells breaks the connection between the different cell layers, allowing the leaf to break away from the plant. It also forms a layer that seals the break, so the plant does not lose sap. Some trees, particularly oaks and beeches, exhibit

1880-486: The shedding of ripe fruit . The antonym of deciduous in the botanical sense is evergreen . Generally, the term "deciduous" means "the dropping of a part that is no longer needed or useful" and the "falling away after its purpose is finished". In plants, it is the result of natural processes. "Deciduous" has a similar meaning when referring to animal parts, such as deciduous antlers in deer , deciduous teeth (baby teeth) in some mammals (including humans); or decidua ,

1927-423: The stony hills covered with brushwood and wild growth." Numerous plant species are native to the Elah Valley, including: Animal species native to the Elah Valley include: 31°41′25.10″N 34°57′07.70″E  /  31.6903056°N 34.9521389°E  / 31.6903056; 34.9521389 Terebinth Pistacia terebinthus also called the terebinth / ˈ t ɛ r ə ˌ b ɪ n θ / and

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1974-703: The terebinth of the pillar that was in Shechem—again most versions use 'oak'). This reference of Abimelech's crowning by an oak is actually referring to the Palestine oak , closely related to the Kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera ). The Hebrew distinguishes the Palestine oak and the terebinth. It is also mentioned in Hosea 4:13 when Hosea is talking about Israel's spiritual adultery by sacrificing to false gods and how to repent and be forgiven in Hosea 14. The word "turpentine"

2021-702: The trees, although in the Septuagint and Vulgate the word is translated 'idols', as the plural of el .) For you will be ashamed of the terebinths that you have taken pleasure in. The best known clear reference to a terebinth ( elah ) in the Hebrew Scriptures is that of the Valley of Elah or 'Valley of the Terebinth' ( עמק האלה ), where David fought Goliath ( 1 Samuel 17:2 , 17:19 ). Later in 2 Samuel 18:9 David's rebellious son Absalom

2068-464: The uterine lining that sheds off after birth. In botany and horticulture , deciduous plants , including trees , shrubs and herbaceous perennials, are those that lose all of their leaves for part of the year. This process is called abscission . In some cases leaf loss coincides with winter—namely in temperate or polar climates . In other parts of the world, including tropical, subtropical, and arid regions, plants lose their leaves during

2115-403: The west coast of the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Middle East , P. terebinthus can be confused with P. atlantica . The terebinth prefers relatively moist areas, up to 600 m (2,000 ft) in elevation. It tolerates more intense frost and summer drought than mastic can. The plant is common in the garrigue and maquis . It appears in deciduous oak wood. It has a gray trunk that

2162-583: Was another name for the turpentine tree, and that the Mycenaean spelling could represent a variant form of this word." The Latin name is underlain by the Ancient Greek name τερέβινθος which, in turn, is underlain by a pre-Greek Pelasgian word, marked by the characteristic consonant complex νθ. Terebinth from Oricum is referred to in Virgil 's Aeneid , Book 10, line 136, where Ascanius in battle

2209-417: Was originally used for the exudate of terebinth trees ( P. terebinthus and related species such as P. atlantica ), now called Chian, Chios, or Cyprian turpentine, and it was later transferred to the crude turpentine ( oleoresin ) and the oil of turpentine ( essential oil ) of conifer trees. The word turpentine derives (via Old French and Latin ) from the Greek word τερεβινθίνη ( terebinthínē ),

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