Iris palaestina | |
---|---|
| |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Iridaceae |
Genus: | Iris |
Subgenus: | Iris subg. Scorpiris |
Section: | Iris sect. Scorpiris |
Species: | I. palaestina |
Binomial name | |
Iris palaestina | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Iris palaestina (sometimes Iris palestina) is a species in the genus Iris belonging to the subgenus Scorpiris. It is a bulbous perennial from Asia, including the Palestine region (Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan), Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. It has long, narrow, strap-like leaves, and a short stem. The early blooming, fragrant flowers are greenish-grey/white or yellow-white.
Iris palestina has 1–1.5 in (25–38 mm) ovoid brown bulbs. [2] [3]
Most specimens have up to six leaves, [4] which are 6 in (150 mm) tall at flowering time. [3] They are normally about 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) wide at the base of the plant. [5] The long, narrow, strap-like leaves have undulate edges [6] with a thin white margin. [2] They are normally shiny green in color, [7] but are glossy on the upper surface. [2]
It has a short stem which is about 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) high. [2]
It has fragrant flowers between January and February. [3] Generally, there are one to three flowers per stem. The flowers are greenish-grey/white, [8] [9] but can be yellow-white as well. In southern Israel, some specimens have a slight blue tinge. [2]
The flowers have winged falls. It has a perianth tube around 8–18 cm (3.1–7.1 in) long. [7]
It has oblong capsules and seeds without arils. [2] [5]
It is also known as the Palestine iris, [2] and it is known in Hebrew as איריס ארץ-ישראלי (iris eretz Israeli). [4]
Iris palestina was first found in Mesopotamia, part of Syria, and it was first published in Flora Orientalis by Pierre Edmond Boissier in July 1882. [10]
It was originally thought to be a variety of Iris vartanii . [3] It is similar in form to the better-known and more decorative Iris planifolia . [8]
Iris palaestina is an accepted name by the Royal Horticultural Society. [11] It was verified by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, and then updated on 1 December 2004. [12]
It is native to temperate Asia. [12]
It comes from Turkey, Jordan, [12] Syria, [10] Lebanon, [12] (including Batha [2] ) and Israel. It was found in Golan, Galilee, the Mediterranean coast, the northern valleys, Carmel, Samarian mountains, Samarian desert, Judean mountains, Sharon and Shefela. [4]
It likes open stony soils (with sandstone material) [2] at low altitudes. [5] Normally it is found at coastal sites but is also common within olive groves. [8]
It is hardy to USDA Zone 4. [7]
The iris is not hardy and is generally a poor grower in the UK. [9] It is better grown in a pot under cover in a greenhouse or bulb frame. It should be potted in well-drained, fertile compost and have a summer rest from watering. [6]
It can be found and seen in Tel Aviv University Botanic Garden. [13]
It has been used as a medicinal plant in the Middle East for urinary tract infections by boiling the leaves or the rhizomes in water, similar to the use of Iris pallida . [14]
Media related to Iris palaestina at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Iris palaestina at Wikispecies