Iris and some Irids 2011

[Hans A.]

Very nice flower.... for an hybrid ! 

Thanks

Pat, Jamie,
parents of this plant are two plants I had received from Harald Mathes - a triploid Arilbred (Dotted Sunsuit AAB) and a tetraploid Oncogelia (AAAA). Embryos I grew up in steril medium in test tubes.
Had talked  with him about this hybrid and he told me as DS is triploid (AAB) there are following possibilities:
1)     AA + A.   triploid, low fertility.
2)     AA + AB. tetraploide ¾-bred, low fertility.
3)     AA + AAB. pentaploide Arilbred. possibly fertile.
Best results might be obtained by backcrossing on the tetraploid Oncogelia - resulting plants could be again tetraploid Oncogelias (which could be used to produce new Arilbreds) - but I will also try to cross it with its sibling.

[Lesley Cox]

I can see why it is important to keep meticulous records. Whatever its breeding future or lack of it, I hope it thrives for you Hans and I look forward to a picture of a big flowering clump in a year or two.

[Oron Peri]

Another rare Iris from this week, this time in the Golan Height,
I. grant-duffii.

[Regelian]

Oron,

wonderfull!  I had no idea how this iris grew in nature.  It has always fascinated me  Is seed collectable or is this a protected species?  It's been on my wish list for a while.  Are there other colour forms in the area?

Thanks for sharing these.

Jamie

[PeterT]

how lovely Oron! The habitat looks quite verdant at this time of year

[David Nicholson]

Beautiful Oron. Brian Mathew says it smells faintly of Primroses-did you notice that at all?

[Oron Peri]

Thanks all,

Iris grant-duffi is very rare,
Only few dozen clumps still growing in Israel.
While the population in the Golan-Height [syrian territory] is doing better, although growing only in one small area.
As all bulbous plant in Israel, this species is highly protected  by low and is on the Red List.
Its habitat are flooded areas or by streams.
Bulb is deep in the ground 20-40 cm.

David, it does have a nice sent, cant say if similar to Primrose, is it isn't very common in the desert..

[David Nicholson]

David, it does have a nice sent, cant say if similar to Primrose, is it isn't very common in the desert..

 

[arillady]

I have one seed grown plant which has never flowered in at least 10 years. It comes up and dies down each year - I am scared to move it. I would like to feed it with something to increase the likelihood of flowers. Any suggestions?
Pat

[Oron Peri]

I have one seed grown plant which has never flowered in at least 10 years. It comes up and dies down each year - I am scared to move it. I would like to feed it with something to increase the likelihood of flowers. Any suggestions?
Pat

Pat,

It should do well for you as the climate is same as for Oncos, which you grow perfectly.

I would try to change it's position, when completely dormant in Autumn.
It requires full sun all day, wet, rich heavy soil that would dry completely in summer.

[arillady]

Oron the conditions are a big ask here as the creek is highly saline so the banks of that are out of the question. Maybe below the dam where it seeps slightly if it ever has lots of water (neighbours put in a dam above our property)
It doesn't look as though grazing animals eat it.

[Oron Peri]

Another photo from the same location, this time with Anemone coronaria.

[Hans A.]

Wow Oron!
Which great pictures of Iris grant-duffi and its habitat! Thanks for sharing them!

[arillady]

Oron is that a road near the power lines at the top of the bank? If it is a road does that bank get run off water from the road?
Still thinking where I could more Iris grant-duffii - if there is evidence that I could divide it and leave some where it is and move some do you think that a good idea?
Our access track from the front gate down to the house yard has spots where water runs off the road. Which way - north, south, east, west? does the slope face that you have shown us?

[arillady]

Oron you don't happen to have a photo of the same site in summer?