Negev Desert - Israel

[cohan]

Yesterday I went to the Northern part of the Negev desert in order to see Drimia undulata [Syn. Urginea undulata] in flower.

This summer is the hottest summer ever recorded in the east Mediterranean, still some plants are in bloom despite these conditions.
 

fascinating that some plants flower at this time of year rather than waiting till the cooler/wetter season..i guess its all about trying to compete for pollinators?

[arillady]

Like Lesley said the leaves are stunning and worth growing mainly for the leaves. 

[Oron Peri]

Today another visit to the Negev, this time to the high area, to find a Crocus which i will show later in the Crocus thread.

On the way there i first crossed a group of 16 wild Persian donkeys [Equus hemionus ongar].
There pairs where brought to Israel in the late sixtees from Denmark and other three pairs where caught in the wild in Iran in the early seventies, today there are about a hundred individuals, most of them were introduced to the Negev, they are hard to notice.

In the dry valleys it is possible to see some very old Pistacia atlantica trees, most of them are hundreds of years old, a sad memory of the Mediterranean climate that used to be in that area many decades ago.
Unfortunately they do not germinate any more since there is not enough rain.

[Oron Peri]

A unique Ferula, F. biverticillata blooms in Autumn before the leaves which will appear after the rains.
It is a rare plant.

[Oron Peri]

In one location there is a large group of gigantic Drimia maritima, inflorescence reach 1.9m in height having huge bulbs, some almost the size of a football.
One bulb was cut in two, drying out in the sun, amazingly it produces new bulblets.

[Oron Peri]

 Drimmia undulata flowering seoson is over now, it is in fruit and spreading its seeds already.
Near by Pancratium sikenbergeri is just appearing to bloom till mid November.

[David Nicholson]

A fascinating area Oron, thanks for showing us. I had to have three looks before I found the donkeys

[Oron Peri]

A fascinating area Oron, thanks for showing us. I had to have three looks before I found the donkeys

Only three...not bad...

[Tony Willis]

Oron great to see,the pancratium is wonderful.

[Armin]

Oron,
it must have been fascinating to see such rare Onager passing by. It is still a very endangered species.
I find the Drimia maritima impressive!

[BULBISSIME]

Superb Oron !
I also love the Pancratium... only seen the fabulous leaves but the flowers are not bad too 
I'm looking forward to seeing your crocus ....

[Oron Peri]

Thank you all,

Here is another one i forgot, Prospero hanburyi, its pedicals become much longer as seed capsules are about to open.

[arillady]

Oron,
How does Drimia maritima differ to Eremurus?
Great to see what plants can withstand such drought and heat.

[Maggi Young]

Good question, Pat! It's this sort of thingthat keeps taxonomists in work, isn't it?!!

I suggest a read of the PBS pages, which are often invaluable for their  information.........both Drimia and Urginea are in  Hyacinthaceae and Urginea is now considered by many to be included in Drimia .
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Drimia 
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Urginea   
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Eremurus   is in  Asphodelaceae

[Diane Clement]

Good question, Pat! It's this sort of thingthat keeps taxonomists in work, isn't it?!!

I suggest a read of the PBS pages, which are often invaluable for their  information.........both Drimia and Urginea are in  Hyacinthaceae and Urginea is now considered by many to be included in Drimia .

So what Oron calls Drimia maritima is what was previously called Urginea maritima
http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/synonomy.do?accepted_id=305015&repSynonym_id=288627&name_id=305015&status=true

And as Oron is clearly very upto date with taxonomy   
what he calls Prospero was previously included in part of Scilla.  
http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/synonomy.do?accepted_id=285272&repSynonym_id=288712&name_id=285272&status=true