The Bay Tree of Scripture is a native of Palestine. It was a tree of rapid growth and of speedy decay, of thick foliage and wide-spread branches (Psa. 37:35).
Bitter Herbs were eaten at the Passover Supper (Ex. 12). Repentance and self-judgment were to accompany the memorial of redemption. There are many native plants of a bitter kind, as wild lettuce, chicory, etc.
Bramble, Briers, Thorns, Thistle, Pricks, Nettles. There are about 20 Hebrew words denoting various prickly plants, emblematic of the curse, and which abound in Palestine. The references in Scripture to these plants are numerous.
Bulrush, Rushes, Flags, Reeds, etc. These various words signify the papyrus plant of Egypt, now extinct, and from which the earliest paper was derived. This plant is still found in certain marshy places in Palestine.
Cockle was a destructive weed and exceedingly offensive to the smell. It must have been a well-known Arabian plant (Job 31:40); it is translated "wild grapes" in Isa. 5:2,4.
The Elm Tree (Hosea 4:13,) is elsewhere translated "teil tree," under the spreading branches of which idolatrous rites were performed.
Gall and Wormwood are the names of two poisonous plants; the latter was eaten, and the former yielded a drink, while both are used as the expression of Divine judgment Jer. 8:14, etc.
Grass is used as the expression of what is transitory and perishable (Isa. 40:6-8, etc). The grasses of Palestine are more numerous than in any other country.
Hemlock, an exceedingly bitter and poisonous plant (Hos. 10:4). Hay, cut or dried grass, as food for cattle was unknown among the Hebrews; it simply signifies full grown grass (Prov. 27:25).
Hyssop was employed in the sprinkling of blood (Exod. mi.), and in the purification of the Leper (Lev. 14) What plant was used cannot be determined with certainty. It is frequently employed as the expression of nature in its lowest and worst forms.
The Lily of Palestine, of which their are several species, has been pronounced by travelers to be exquisitely beautiful. This fair and lovely flower is frequently referred to in the Scriptures.
The Mulberry Trees of 2 Sam. 5:23, 24 cannot be identified, but the reference in the text is evidently to a grove of trees whose tall branches would convey the rustling sound intended by Jehovah.
The Pine Tree is twice referred to by Isaiah, chapters 41:19; 60:13. "It is quite unknown to what tree this term applied."-Sir Joseph Hooker.
The Poplar was used by Jacob (Gen. 30:37), and under its pale and abundant foliage idolatrous rites were anciently practiced (Hos. 4:13).
The Rose of Palestine is twice referred to in Scripture (Isa. 35 and Song of Sol. 2:1). What particular flower is indicated by the "Rose" and "Lily" cannot be determined. Beauty and fragrance are however characteristics of the Palestine roses.
Tares are mentioned only in Matt. 13:24-30. The seeds of this wheat-like grass are poisonous to man and beast and hurtful to all cereals.
The age and durability of some of these trees are very remarkable,, and are referred to by the grandest of the prophets (Isaiah) in illustration of the long ages of Jehovah's earthly people in the millennium. Here is a list of a few well-known trees and their ages, extracted from Dr. Dunn's valuable book on "Biblical Natural Science,"Vol 2, page 497: