Family |
Iridaceae
Romulea nivalis
(Boiss. & Kotschy) Klatt
Leb. Syr.
Romulea nivalis (Boiss. & Kotschy) Klatt
First published in Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 15: 400 (1882).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, p. 321, Pl. C, 5; 1966)
Description
Life-form & habit: Cormous perennial with papery tunics and numerous flowering stems, bearing as many as 9–10 flowers.
Leaves: Relatively short and broad for the genus, 1–2 mm wide.
Inflorescence & flowers: The lower spathe is herbaceous with a scarious margin; the upper is scarious with a distinct green keel. The perianth has a yellow throat and blue-violet tips. The style exceeds the anthers.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering March–May, as snow melts.
Habitat & elevation: Snowmelt areas above 1,500 m.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Barouk cedars, Jabal Barouk, Dahr el Baidar, Jabal Kneisse, Khan Sannine, Jabal Sannine, above Mayrouba, Laqlouq, Jourd Tannourine, Jourd Hadeth, Cedars pass, Ainata, the Cedars, Faraya and Mount Hermon.
Syrian distribution: Wadi Marj and Jabal Abou el Haoua.
Native range: Lebanon-Syria.