Family |
Iridaceae
Iris histrio
Rchb.f.
Leb. Syr. Tur.
Iris histrio Rchb.f.
First published in Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 30: 488 (1872).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, pp. 308–309, Pl. CII, 3; 1966)
Description
Life-form & habit: Bulbous perennial with an ovoid bulb enclosed by netlike fibrous tunics; several whitish, membranous sheaths surround the stem base.
Leaves: One or two grooved, four-angled leaves, longer than the flowers.
Inflorescence & flowers: Blue-violet flowers with a short tube and a limb 3–5 cm long. The outer tepals bend back in their upper third and bear a pale-yellow patch edged with whitish and dotted dark purple; the narrower inner tepals remain upright.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering February–March.
Habitat & elevation: Rocky places.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Above Saida and Jounieh, below Ghazir, Bhamdoun, Sofar, Mdeirej, Dahr el Baidar, Ain Lejji near the Barouk cedars, Qadicha valley, Towmat Jezzine, Zahle, Marjayyoun and Kfertay.
Syrian distribution: Safita, Kessab, Eriha, Jisr ech Choghour, Khabab and between Qneitra and Banias.
Native range: Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Türkiye.