Iris mariae

It is a geophyte,[2][3] with a short rhizome.[4] Around 3 cm long,[5] and it is stoloniferous.[6] Meaning it has several extremely long, secondary roots.[5]

It has 7–8,[6] glaucous, falcate (or sickle-shaped) leaves,[6][7][8] that are 10 to 12 cm (4 to 4.5 in) long,[4][5] and 0.4 to 0.6 cm (0 to 0 in) wide.[6] They are very similar to Iris iberica.[5]

It has a stem that can grow up to 15–25 cm (6–10 in) tall.[9][10][11] Which is taller than the foliage.[5]

It flowers in late spring,[12] between February and March.[6][8][13]

The large flowers are 8–10 cm (3–4 in) in diameter,[12] and come in shades of lilac,[8] pinkish,[9][12] or violet.[10][7][11]

It has 2 pairs of petals,[2] 3 large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or tepals, known as the 'standards'.[14] The recurved and darker falls,[9] are 5 cm (2 in) long and 2.5–3 cm wide,[6] with reddish brown,[12] or dark purple veining,[11][12] and a blackish-violet[10][11] or deep purple signal patch.[6][12][4] In the middle of the falls, also is a row of short hairs called the 'beard', which is black,[6][5] or purple.[12][9][10] The upright standards are larger and paler than the falls, and 6–6.5 cm (2–3 in) long and 4 cm wide.[6]

After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule.

It is commonly called 'Mary's Iris' or 'Negev Iris'.[13][2][8]

It is written in Hebrew as איריס הנגב [13][2] and in Arabic script as سوسن النقب[2]

It was named after Mary, mother of Jesus,[8] and is sometimes incorrectly called Iris mairiae.[6][16]

It was originally found in Egypt,[17] and was first named by William Barbey as Iris helenae. Although, that name was already used by Koch for another Iris so M. Barbey has recently withdrawn the name Helenae and the proposed that of Iris mariae.[9] It was then published by Barbey in Oesterr. Bot. Z. Issue 41 on page 207 in 1891.[1][17][18]

It was also later published in Gartenflora 42: 343 in 1893, Krel. 1898; Van T. 1900; Van W. in 1906 and the 'Year Book of Iris Society' (Yr. Bk. I.S.(E.)) 43. in 1933.[9]

I. mariae is an accepted name by the RHS,[19] and it was listed in the RHS Plant Finder in 2012.[19] It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003.[18] and listed in Encyclopedia of Life.[20]

Iris mariae is native to temperate Asia.[18]

It is becoming increasingly rare.[25] but in Israel, it is protected by law,[13][7] but still classed as 'endangered'.[20] Unfortunately most of its populations are located outside nature reserves.[7]

It is threatened by illegal harvesting (for the cut flower industry,[25]), climate change, urbanisation, and also from the impacts of modern agriculture.[8]

In Europe, it is hardy to Zone H4,[12] meaning hardy to -5 to -10oC (23 to 14oF)[26] −20 °C (−4 °F)

It usually requires very good drainage,[5] restricted water and protection from frosts, although keeping it barely dry during the winter, will make it more cold tolerant.[5][4]

The seed of the iris is deemed easy to germinate but growers should have some experience in growing others in this group of Irises.[22] The seed can be also grown using in-vitro seed germination.[21]

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also, handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[27]

Known Iris mariae cultivars: 'Barnumae Mariae'
Known Hybrids; Iris mariae crosses include; Iris mariae × Iris atropurpurea ; 'Brown Prince',[28] 'Spiced Coffee'[29] Iris mariae × Iris hermona ; 'Goren',[30] 'Sa'ar' Iris gatesii × Iris mariae - 'Desert Gem'[31] (Iris mariae × Iris samariae) × self - 'Adva' Iris darwasica × Iris mariae - 'Hesperia'[32] Iris korolkowii × Iris mariae; 'Andromache', 'Artemis',[33] 'Aspasia',[34] 'Dido', 'Eurydice',[35] 'Flora', 'Massilia', 'Medusa' and 'Una', Oncogelia × Iris mariae - 'Bagdad Bauble'[36] Regeliocyclus × Iris mariae - 'Saraglen'[9]

In 1970, a stamp series named 'Israeli Wild Flowers' was issued by Israel to celebrate Independence Day, it included Iris mariae.[37][38]

Then in February 2013, an ATM Label Negev Iris was produced, which has an image of the iris on it.[39]

• Boulos, L. 1995. Flora of Egypt checklist.
• Danin, A. 2004. Distribution atlas of plants in the Flora Palaestina area.
• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 54–55.
• Sapir, Y. et al. 2002. Morphological variation of the Oncocyclus irises (Iris: Iridaceae) in the southern Levant. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 139:369-382.
• Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iris mariae.

Data related to Iris mariae at Wikispecies