page_title: Valley of Elah
section_title: Flora and fauna
hierarchical_section_title: Valley of Elah / Flora and fauna
caption_attribution_description: English: Photograph of the Blue Lupine (Lupinus pilotus), taken by me in the ancient run=in of Tel Socho, Israel Other information
context_page_description: The Valley of Elah or Ella Valley is a long, shallow valley in Israel and the West Bank best known as the place described in the Old Testament where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath. It is home to several important archaeological sites, including those identified as the ancient towns of Azekah and Socho. Rising up from the valley on its extreme southeast end lies the hilltop ruin Adullam, and on its north lie the ruins of the ancient fortress city of Khirbet Qeiyafa.
  The valley is named after the large and shady terebinth trees which are indigenous to it. On the west side of the valley, near Socho, there is a very large and ancient tree of this kind, 55 feet in height with a trunk 17 feet in circumference and a canopy at least 75 feet in diameter. This tree 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.
context_section_description: Numerous plant species are native to the Elah Valley, including:
  Terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus)
  Kermes oak (Quercus calliprinos)
  Buckthorn (Rhamnus lycioides)
  Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)
  Sweet marjoram (Majorana syriaca; syn. Origanum syriacum)
  Sage (Salvia fruticosa)
  Toothpick (Ammi visnaga)
  Florence fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
  Anemone (Anemone coronaria)
  Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
  Lupine (Lupinus pilosus)
  Daisy (Glebionis coronaria)
  Syrian cornflower-thistle (Centaurea cyanoides) – rare
  Mallow (Malva nicaeensis)
  Asparagus (Asparagus palaestinus)
  Chicory (Cichorium pumilum; syn. Cichorium endivia)
  Broom lettuce (Lactuca serriola)
  Stinging nettle (Urtica urens)
  Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus)
  Wild oat (Avena sterilis)
  Wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum; syn. H. ithaburense)
  Wild mustard (Sinapsis alba)
  Arum; cuckoo-pint (Arum palaestinum)
  Caper (Capparis spinosa)
  Wild carrot (Daucus carota)
  Globe-thistle (Echinops adenocaulos)
  Ciliate vetchling (Lathyrus blepharicarpus)
  Spiny broom (Calicotome villosa)
  Animal species native to the Elah Valley include:
  Mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella)
  Golden jackal (Canis aureus syriacus)
  Syrian fox (Vulpes thaleb)
  Crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata)
  Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)
  Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor)
  Middle East blind mole-rat (Spalax ehrenbergi; syn. Nannospalax ehrenbergi)
  Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca)
  Günther's vole (Microtus guentheri)
  Legless lizard (Pseudopus apodus)
caption: Blue lupine in Tel Socho of the Elah Valley
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