Iris palaestina

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Iris palaestina
Iris palaestina 2.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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]
  • Juno palaestina(Baker) Klatt
  • Thelysia palaestina(Baker) Mattei
  • Xiphion palaestinumBaker

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.

Contents

Description

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]

Iris palaestina near Jerusalem Iris palaestina near Jerusalem.jpg
Iris palaestina near Jerusalem

Taxonomy

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]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to temperate Asia. [12]

Range

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]

Habitat

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]

Cultivation

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]

Cultural uses

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]

References

  1. ↑ "Juno palaestina". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Iris palaestina". www.flowersinisrael.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Richard Lynch The Book of the Iris , p. 186-187, at Google Books
  4. 1 2 3 "Iris palaestina". www.wildflowers.co.il. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 British Iris Society (1997) A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation , p. 255, at Google Books
  6. 1 2 "Iris palestina". rareplants.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification , p. 260, at Google Books
  8. 1 2 3 "Iris palaestina". encyclopaedia.alpinegardensociety.net/. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  9. 1 2 Cassidy, G.E.; Linnegar, S. (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. pp. 145–146. ISBN   0-88192-089-4.
  10. 1 2 "Iris palaestina". apps.kew.org. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Iris palaestina". www.rhs.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Iris palaestina". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  13. ↑ "Iris palaestina". botanic.tau.ac.il. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  14. ↑ Ram J. Singh (Editor) Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement: Medicinal , p. 172, at Google Books

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