This article surveys the botanical composition of 40 Muslim graveyards in northern Israel,
accompanied by an ethnobotanical study of the folkloristic traditions of the use of these
plants in cemeteries. Three groups of plants were found to be repeated systematically and
were also recognized for their ritual importance: aromatics herbs (especially Salvia fruticosa
and Rosmarinus officinalis), white flowered plants (mainly Narcissus tazetta, Urginea
maritima, Iris spp. and Pancratium spp.) and Cupressus sempervirens as the leading …