Oncoseason 2010

[Miriam]

Hendrik,
Some scientists suppose they are not the same species like Dr. Michael Avishai and I agree with them.
Here, near Yerocham, Iris petrana (or more correct to say Iris hieruchamensis) has mainly yellow beards and not black ones as appear in Iris petrana in Jordan.
From what I read in books, it might be that Iris petrana (in jordan) was developed from Iris nigricans and Iris hieruchamensis was developed from Iris atrofusca, so they are completely different species.

[Oron Peri]

Great plant Oron!
Perhaps you should not work so much, so you could take the pictures in normal daylight.
The Israelian petranas seem to vary more in the colour than those of Jordan, which are said to be quite uniformly dark.
Just for comparision some last year pics of an Iris petrana which should come from Jordan - with backlight the flowers get a reddish tone.

Hans, Oron,
Wonderful plants!
Thank you.
There is something I don't understand. Iris petrana grows in Israel in sandy soils at low altitude; the plants I found in the surroundings of Petra (Jordan) were growing at heigh altitude (1500 m) in heavy soil, between calcareous rocks.
Are they the same species?
Hendrik

Hendrik,

The discussion regarding I. petrana/ hieruchamensis lasts for many years and probably will continue for many more years to come...
the relations between some of the white colored Oncos, such as I. bismarckiana and I. hermona for example, as well as some of the dark colored species is not completely resolved yet.

Regarding your question, it is not rare to find bulbous plants of the same species in our area that grow in different elevations and soils.

Just to give other examples, Ixiolirion tataricum grows in company of Iris petrana in Yerucham at about 450m, in pure sand but you can see it in flower as well on Mt. Hermon at 2000m in completely different conditions, the same thing happens with Muscari neglectum, while Muscari commutatum is a record braking, it can be seen near the Dead Sea at minus 350m and again on Mt. Hermon at 1700m.

Hyacinthella, Gagea, Colchicum are also good examples.

The answer might be related to the Syrio-African rift that resulted in long chains of mountains with the Jordan and Arava Vallies and the Dead Sea in the middle, bringing up different stone and soil formats.

[Hans A.]

Thanks Hendrik.

Oron thanks for the explanation - Oncos for sure are one of the most complicated sections of Iris in terms of nomenclature - as you mentioned there are many examples - just thinking in Iris hermona, Iris kirkwoodii ssp calcarea and the recent rediscovered Iris westii (in my opinion Iris bismarckiana is more different by flower and the type of growth) or the isolated dark Onco population in the east of Lake Kinneret which has (as I know) been called Iris jordana, Iris haynei var. jordana and Iris atrofusca.
As you mentioned those plants are able to grow in different soils what also might cause a  change their appearance.
I also tend to think those Iris petrana of Jordan and Israel look different - more as for example those I mentioned before - maybe  I will change my mind when I see them one day in their habitat. 

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Oron, Myriam, Hans,
Thank you very much for your information!
Hendrik

[Oron Peri]

The Negev Desert is just full of flowers at the moment, the two reasons are the  good rains we have this year and for the last 10 days, temperatures  are much hotter than normal,  up to 30c.
As a result many species are in bloom weeks before normal times.
These are the first Iris mariae seen this morning, about 3 weeks earlier.

[TheOnionMan]

Wow, that's about as special as it can be... such large sumptuous flowers on such short stems and tiny foliage.  Is it growing in pure sand?  Did you find them in variable colors. Stunning!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Again my thanks for showing us these amazing beauties Oron !   They're simply awesome ! 

[BULBISSIME]

Awfull oron !!!
pure jewels on pure sand 
I just wish you some snow for the next 2 weeks 
Plants seems to be covered by sand.... lot of wind ??

[arillady]

What a lot to learn on this forum but also lots to confuse and trip up.
Thanks so much Oron for the explanation.
As the irises baffle and create discussion between the experts as to the correct species I feel better that I can make mistakes.

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

The Negev Desert is just full of flowers at the moment, the two reasons are the  good rains we have this year and for the last 10 days, temperatures  are much hotter than normal,  up to 30c.
As a result many species are in bloom weeks before normal times.
These are the first Iris mariae seen this morning, about 3 weeks earlier.

Wonderful plants and location!
Thank you
Hendrik

[Hans A.]

Breathtaking!
Oron thank you very much for showing them!

[Hans A.]

Very early this year Iris haynei started to flower. One of the flowers is very huge, the standards are about 15 cm long - here a few pictures (as I could not decide which to post ).

[BULBISSIME]

Incredible flower Hans !!!
What did you give it to drink
Magique potion ?? 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Hans, you keep making me search for new adjectives to describe my amazement ! 

Stunning flowers once again ! And so enormous !
No wonder you couldn't decide which pictures to post ! 

[Maggi Young]

My goodness! What a HUGE flower......it must be hungry..... where are Maria José's little pinschers? It han't eaten them, has it?