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.
Iris palestina has NaNinches ovoid brown bulbs.
Most specimens have up to six leaves, which are 6inches tall at flowering time. They are normally about NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) wide at the base of the plant.[1] 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 NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) 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 NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) long.
It has oblong capsules and seeds without arils.[1]
It is also known as the Palestine iris,[2] and it is known in Hebrew as איריס ארץ-ישראלי (iris eretz Israeli).[3]
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.[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 Royal Horticultural Society.[7] 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.
It is native to temperate Asia.
It comes from Turkey, Jordan, Syria,[4] Lebanon, (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.[3]
It likes open stony soils (with sandstone material)[2] at low altitudes.[1] Normally it is found at coastal sites but is also common within olive groves.[6]
It is hardy to USDA Zone 4.[8]
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.[10]
It can be found and seen in Tel Aviv University Botanic Garden.[11]
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.[12]