Iris palaestina
Scientific classification Edit this 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]
  • Juno palaestina (Baker) Klatt
  • Thelysia palaestina (Baker) Mattei
  • Xiphion palaestinum Baker

Iris palaestina (sometimes Iris palestina) is a species in the genus Iris in 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.

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

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 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, Mediterranean coast, 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. 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. 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/. 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. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Iris palaestina". www.rhs.org.uk. 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. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  14. ↑ Ram J. Singh (Editor)Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement: Medicinal, p. 172, at Google Books

Other sources

  • Danin, A. (2004). Distribution Atlas of Plants in the Flora Palaestina Area: 404-410. Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
  • Feinbrun-Dothan, N. (1986). Flora Palaestina 4: 112-137. Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
  • Innes, C. (1985). The World of Iridaceae: 1-407. Holly Gare International Ltd., Ashington.
  • Post, G.E. (1933). Fl. Syria, Palestine & Sinai 2: 583-604. American Press, Beirut.

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