Iris from SW Turkey Feb/Mar 2009

[DaveM]

I did, Tony .........

[ranunculus]

Wonderful images, Dave ... many thanks for posting.

[Maggi Young]

Sumptuous gems. David. Truly a delight to see. I particularly like the Iris issica..... those velvety browns.... yummy!  I suppose it would be as intractible in cultivation as its relatives?  

[Hans A.]

  - Dave all(!) this pictures and species are just fantastic - Iris masia and Iris issica are extremly seldom seen - Thanks so much for showing them - if it should be possible to show something more of their habitat I would be very happy!

[tonyg]

I did, Tony .........

My next evening shift at work is Saturday .... but you don't have to wait until then!

[Jim McKenney]

Dave, these pictures are amazing and wonderful - I would love to have been on that trip!

[DaveM]

Thanks for your comments

Maggie: don't think I'd get very far with these Junos, though one member of our party who lives in Kent has successfully grown I persica from seed. Perhaps others have been successful too. Not sure whether I issica seed is available very often, though there were plenty of individuals in the cemetary population, showing the variation I've tried to illustrate. It seems certain that viable seed has been set at least from time to time.

Hans: Sorry, I'm afraid that I don't have any photos of the cemetary habitat of both these species. I was only too glad to be able to see these species where we did. It would indeed have been great to see the true wild habitat of these species. However, our itinerary couldn't include excursion further east than Gaziantep. As it was we covered something like 4000 km in the two weeks!!

[Miriam]

Wonderful-both the plants and the photographs!

[Maggi Young]

 So good to be able to see these plants.... I expect/ HOPE that fact that some are growing in graveyards will afford them a measure of protection form all sorts of predation?

[DaveM]

Indeed, Maggie!!

Hans - I checked and I do have a pic of the cemetary location of Iris issica. Very snowy Taurus mountains in the background.

[arillady]

Dave thanks so much for posting these species - and especially the cemetery photo as I find (haunt) cemeteries for old roses and bulbs quite often - fascinating places - permission is always sought of course before getting cuttings (of roses). Have not seen such good photo of Iris masia - good to know that it is a low elevation species. Another to look out for on seedlists.

[Hans A.]

Thanks a lot for the photos, Dave. 
I think a cementery is a singular habitat for a Juno

[gote]

North west Turkey also has nice Irises. The first pic is taken very near Hereke on the north shore of lake Marmara.
The two others in my garden. Unfortunately I lost them a wet winter.
As you see they come in two colurs.
Göte

[Oron Peri]

The I. masia we saw clearly had been planted in the cemetary just off the main highway linking the coastal towns, so the altitude could have been no more than 20-30 m. From what I recall (my memory is not what it used to be), the distribution of this iris is from the area east of Gaziantep in the area north of the Syrian border: so again the altitude of its natural habitat is probably quite low. I'm sure the Flora of Turkey contains the details.

Dave thank you very much for this information.

I wonder if someone has experience in growing this species?

[BULBISSIME]

Wonderfull pics dave !
it should be a very good trip !!