Iris palaestina
Iris palaestina is a species in the genus Iris belonging to the subgenus Scorpiris. It is a bulbous perennial from Asia, including the Palestine region, Lebanon, and Syria. It has long, narrow, strap-like leaves, and a short stem. The early blooming, fragrant flowers are greenish-grey/white or yellow-white.
It is also known as the Palestine iris, and it is known in Hebrew as איריס ארץ-ישראלי.
Description
Iris palestina has ovoid brown bulbs.Most specimens have up to six leaves, which are tall at flowering time. They are normally about wide at the base of the plant. The long, narrow, strap-like leaves have undulate edges with a thin white margin. They are normally shiny green in color, but are glossy on the upper surface. It has a short stem which is about high.
It has fragrant flowers between January and February. Generally, there are one to three flowers per stem. The flowers are greenish-grey/white, but can be yellow-white as well. In southern Israel, some specimens have a slight blue tinge. The flowers have winged falls. It has a perianth tube around long.
It has oblong capsules and seeds without arils.
Taxonomy
The species was first described as Xiphion palaestinum by John Gilbert Baker in 1871. It was transferred to the now unrecognized genus Juno in 1972 as Juno palaestina. In 1882, it was given its present placement in Iris in a paper published by Caroline Barbey-Boissier and William Barbey, with the author of the combination Iris palestina being just William Barbey.It was originally thought to be a variety of Iris vartanii. It is similar in form to the better-known and more decorative Iris planifolia. Indeed, in 2017, it was suggested to be a subspecies of Iris planifolia, I. planifolia subsp. palaestina.
Iris palaestina is a name accepted by the Royal Horticultural Society. 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.
Distribution and habitat
Iris palestina is native to Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestine region. In Lebanon, its range includes Batha, and in Israel, it was found in Golan, Galilee, the Mediterranean coast, the northern valleys, Carmel, Samarian mountains, Samarian desert, Judean mountains, Sharon and Shefela.It likes open stony soils at low altitudes. Normally it is found at coastal sites but is also common within olive groves.
Cultivation
It is hardy to USDA Zone 4. In the UK, the iris is not hardy and is generally a poor grower. 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 should have a summer rest from watering.It can be seen in Tel Aviv University Botanic Garden.