Iris regis-uzziae is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Scorpiris. Also known as King Uzziae Iris.[1] Named after the 742BC King of Judah, Uzziah.[2]
One translation of the Latin term 'Iris regis-uzziae' in Hebrew is אִירוּס טוּבְיָה [3]
It was first described in notes from Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 1978 by Prof. Naomi Feinbrun-Dothan (an Israeli botanist).[4] She also then described it in The Iris Year Book 1979.[5]
It can be seen in Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.[6] It also can be found at Kew Botanic Gardens, but confusingly they call it 'Jordan Iris'.[7]
Iris regis-uzziae has 1–2 pale-blue, lilac or very pale green flowers.[5] They can also be described as blueish-white.[8]
The falls are about 4.5 cm long.[5] It flowers in early spring in January and February, after the leaves have emerged from the ground.[8] The leaves have thich white margin. They reach about 4 cm when the bulb flowers.[5]
The 3.5–4 cm long greyish-brown oblong bulbs,[5] grow about 7- below the surface.[8] They have fleshy-like roots.[5]
It has 4 mm long globose seeds.[5]
Compared to Iris aucheri, it is smaller, has fewer leaves and has a yolk-yellow coloured crest. Compared to iris nusairiensis, it has highest leaf is not dilated and its yellow crest has a white margin.[5]
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[9] It has a chromosomal count of 2n = 20,[10] or 2n = 22 (Feinbrun 1978).[11]
It was found on north or west facing rocky slopes [8] of Southern Jordan and Negev in Israel.[8]