Judean Iris

Appearance

It has a stout, compact rhizome, with very long secondary roots. The rhizomes grow level with the surface of the soil, so that they can benefit from heat from the sun. The roots form dense, thick clumps reaching 0.5 m wide.

The leaves of the iris are falcate, or erect, or ensiform. It is thought that specimens from the Arad valley have falcate leaves, compared with those found in the Beersheva hills or, which have erect leaves. They are also similar to "Iris susiana". The iris can have up to 5–8 leaves, which are greyish-green or pale green and slightly glaucescent. They can grow up to between 15–40 cm long, and between 0.8 and 2 cm wide.

It has a stout stem or peduncle that can grow up to between 20–45 cm tall. It is as tall as "I. susiana". The stem has pale green, ventricose spathes, which are 9–10 cm long. The single terminal flowers bloom in late March or April.

The fragrant flowers are 10–15 cm in diameter, and come in darker shades ranging through purple brown, reddish-black, black brown, dark brown, dark lilac, and dark purple, although a yellow flowered form can be found. It is thought to be the darkest-coloured iris in Israel, and in Jordan is often called 'black iris'.

Like other irises, it has 2 pairs of petals: 3 large sepals, known as the 'falls', and 3 inner, smaller petals, known as the 'standards'. The wide falls are recurved, and measure 6–7.5 cm long and 3–4.5 cm wide.

They have a broad, brownish-black or black signal patch in the middle. In the middle of the falls, extending from the claw, there is a row of short hairs called the 'beard', which is brown-black, light brown, or yellow, tipped with brown. The paler standards are incurved, and measure up to 7–9 cm long and 3–4.5 cm wide. They have heavy veining, in black,) and many reddish-black dots. The flowers are smaller than those of "Iris haynei".

It has style arms which are 5 cm long, greenish yellow and spotted with purple, a white anthers, oblong-shaped ovary, short filaments, and a 5 cm long cylindrical green perianth tube. After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule, which opens up with three parts, and holds many seeds inside.

Distribution

This species is native to temperate Western Asia.

Status

It is a rare and endangered species, due to populations being threatened by over-grazing, and human development including roads and settlements. It is listed in the Israeli Red Data Book as 'rare' in the Samarian Desert, and also the northern Negev. It is listed as 'very rare' in the Judean Mountains and the Negev Highlands. In Israel, there is only one national park, Tel Arad National Park, that has natural population of the iris.

Habitat

This species is native to temperate Western Asia.It grows in the arid desert, dry hills, rocky/stony slopes, loessial plains, semi-steppe shrublands, or even agricultural fields. In the Arad valley, the plant has been under cultivation for several thousands of years.

It can be found at an altitude of −250 to 300 m above sea level.It can be found growing naturally with "phlomis", "echinops" and "Eremostachys laciniata".

Defense

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous. If mistakenly ingested, it can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Handling the plant may also cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.