Kingdom Plantae Family Iridaceae Tribe Irideae Scientific name Iris palaestina | Order Asparagales Subfamily Iridoideae Genus Iris Rank Species | |
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Similar Iris regis‑uzziae, Iris grant‑duffii, Iris vartanii, Iris atrofusca, Iris histrio | ||
Iris palaestina top 5 facts
Iris palaestina (or sometimes Iris palestina) is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Scorpiris. It is also known as the Palestine Iris. It is a bulbous perennial.
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It is known in Hebrew as איריס ארץ-ישראלי.
It was first published in Flora Orientalis by Pierre Edmond Boissier in July 1882.
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.
Iris palaestina is an accepted name by the Royal Horticultural Society.
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.
It is hardy to USDA Zone 4.
The iris is not hardy and is generally a poor grower in the UK. It is better grown in a pot under cover in Alpine house or bulb frame. It should be potted in well-drained, fertile compost and have a summer rest from watering.
It can be found and seen in Tel Aviv University Botanic Garden.
Description
Iris palestina has 1–1.5 in (25–38 mm) ovoid brown bulbs.
It has a short stem which is about 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) high.
It has fragrant flowers between January and February. Generally, there are one to three flowers per stem. The flowers are greenish-grey/white flowers. They can also come in yellow-white flowers as well. Although in Southern Israel, some specimens have a slight blue tinge.
The flowers have winged falls. It has a perianth tube around 8–18 cm (3.1–7.1 in) long.
Most specimens have up to six leaves, which are 6 in (150 mm) tall at flowering time. They are normally about 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) wide at the base of the plant. The long, narrow, strappy 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 oblong capsules and seeds without arils.
Habitat
Iris palestina was first found in Mesopotamia, part of Syria.
It also has been found in Golan, Galilee, Mediterranean coast, Northern valleys, Carmel, Samarian mountains, Samarian desert, Judean mountains, Sharon and Shefela in Israel. Also Batha, Lebanon.
It likes open stoney soils (with sandstone material) at low altitudes. Normally, it is found at coastal sites but olive groves are also common.