Iris palaestina
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| Species: | Iris palaestina
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| Iris palaestina | |
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'Juno palaestina' (Baker) Klatt, 'Thelysia palaestina' (Baker) Mattei and 'Xiphion palaestinum' Baker [1] | |
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.[2] It is a bulbous perennial.
It is known in Hebrew as איריס ארץ-ישראלי.[3]
It was first published in 'Flora Orientalis' by Pierre Edmond Boissier in July 1882.[4]
It was originally thought to be a variety of Iris vartanii.[5] It is similar in form to the better known and more decorative Iris planifolia.[6]
Iris palaestina is an accepted name by the RHS.[7]
It has been used as a medicinal plant in the Middle East to cure Urinary tract infections, by boiling the leaves or the rhizomes in water. Similar to the use of Iris pallida.[8]
It is hardy to USDA Zone 4.[9]
The iris is not hardy and is generally poor grower in the UK.[10] 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.[11]
It can be found and seen in Tel Aviv University Botanic Garden.[12]
Habit
Iris palestina has a (1in - 1.5in) ovoid brown bulbs.[5][2]
It has a short stem, which is about 10-20cm high.[2]
It has fragrant flowers between January and February.[5] Generally, there are between 1-3 flowers per stem. The flowers are greenish-grey/white flowers.[10][6] They can also come in yellow-white flowers as well. Although in Southern Israel, some specimens have a slight blue tinge.[2]
The flowers have winged falls. It has a perianth tube around 8 - 18cm long.[9]
Most specimens have up to 6 leaves,[3] which are 6in tall at flowering time.[5] They are normally about 1-2cm wide at the base of the plant.[13] The long, narrow, strappy leaves have undulate edges,[11] with a thin white margin.[2] They are normally shiny green in colour,[9] but are glossy on the upper surface.[2]
It has oblong capsules and seeds without arils.[13][2]
Native
Iris palestina was first found in Mesopotamia, part of Syria.[4]
It also has been found in Golan, Galilee, Mediterranean coast, Northern valleys, Carmel, Samarian mountains, Samarian desert, Judean mountains, Sharon and Shefela in Israel. [3] Also Batha, Lebanon.[2]
It likes open stoney soils (with sandstone material)[2] at low altitudes.[13] Normally, coastal sites but olive groves are also common.[6]
References
- ^ "Juno palaestina". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Iris palaestina". www.flowersinisrael.com. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ a b c "Iris palaestina". www.wildflowers.co.il. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Iris palaestina". apps.kew.org. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d Richard Lynch The Book of the Iris, p. 186-187, at Google Books
- ^ a b c "Iris palaestina". encyclopaedia.alpinegardensociety.net/. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ "Iris palaestina". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ Ram J. Singh (Editor)Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement: Medicinal, p. 172, at Google Books
- ^ a b c 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 Cite error: The named reference "European" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b Cassidy, G.E.; Linnegar, S. (1982). Growing Irises. Bromley: Christopher Helm. p. 145-146. ISBN 0-88192-089-4.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b "Iris palestina". rareplants.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ "Iris palaestina". botanic.tau.ac.il. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ a b c British Iris Society (1997) A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation , p. 255, 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.
External links
Media related to Iris palaestina at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Iris palaestina at Wikispecies