Definition

Noun 1. A desert shrub: A specific, spiny desert shrub (Retama raetam, syn. Genista raetam) native to arid regions of Syria, Arabia, and North Africa. It is characterized by small white flowers and is noted for its historical and biblical significance. * The retama raetam is well-adapted to survive in extremely dry, sandy environments.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Botanists studied the drought-resistant properties of the retama raetam.
  • In the biblical narrative, the prophet Elijah took shelter under a retama raetam, or broom tree, in the wilderness.

Advanced Usage

• Biblical and Historical Context: The term is primarily used in botanical, historical, or theological contexts to refer to the specific plant believed to be the "broom tree" mentioned in the Old Testament (e.g., 1 Kings 19:4-5).
  • The identification of the retama raetam with the juniper or broom tree of scripture is a subject of interest for biblical botanists.

Variants and Related Words

• White Weeping Broom: A common descriptive name for this plant.
• Genista raetam: A former scientific synonym, indicating it was once classified under a different genus.
• Broom Tree: The common English name used in many biblical translations for this shrub.

Synonyms

• White broom
• Weeping broom (Note: These are common names for the same specific plant, , not general synonyms for any broom plant.)

Notes on Meaning

This word has a very specific, narrow meaning. It does not refer to broom plants in general but to one particular species with notable historical significance. Its usage is almost exclusively academic, botanical, or related to biblical studies.

Noun

1. desert shrub of Syria and Arabia having small white flowers; constitutes the juniper of the Old Testament; sometimes placed in genus Genista