Tulipa 2010

[Miriam]

The first Tulip for this year: Tulipa agenensis subsp. sharonensis.
This species is growing near the coast line on sandy soils.
It does not require low temperatures in order to bloom.

[Maggi Young]

Super photos, Miriam. What a great start to the tulip season.... I can almost feel the sunshine from that flower!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Couldn't agree more Maggi !!

Super pictures Miriam !!

[TheOnionMan]

Tulipa, now here's a genus I get excited about!  I have found that many tulip species and cultivars are exceptionally fragrant.  Miriam, did you notice any fragrance on these?  How many Tulipa species are there in Israel?

[Ragged Robin]

Incredibly striking, I love the black markings with yellow edging inside this bright red tulip - it must really stand out on the coast line Miriam and presumably likes the salty sea air 

[Hans A.]

Wow Miriam - striking plant and very well captured!

[Miriam]

Thank you all 

Mark,
I have not noticed any fragrant.
There are 4 species of Tulipa in Israel:
*Tulipa agenensis (and the subsp. sharonensis)
*Tulipa systola
*Tulipa lownei
*Tulipa polychroma

For more information and photos:
http://www.wildflowers.co.il/english/plantsIndex.asp

[Armin]

Miriam,
wow what a gorgeous Tulip!

What is the destine feature of T.agenensis ssp. sharonensis?
The cremish-white anthers?

[TheOnionMan]

Thanks Miriam, that link is great.... I've been on it before, but I just wondered around for an hour looking at the marvelous plants.  Wow, check out Onosma gigantea on that link (select the additional pics), simply amazing, all the way down Draba oxycarpa on Mt. Herman.  All the photos are artistically taken and crystal clear.  

Now, back to Tulipa.  I got excited when I saw T. polychroma on your list of 4 species for Israel.  I grow this one, an absolute charmer.  That species is fairly common in cultivation, but suspect it must derive from accessions in Afghanistan or Iran, as the coloration is a little different than the ones shown growing in Israel.  That species has sweetly perfumed flowers.

I see on the Wild Flowers of Israel site, that the common name for Tulipa agenensis is "Sun's-eye Tulip", probably referring to the yellow outline on the black center, certainly a striking tulip!

[Miriam]

Mark,
Glad you liked the website.
T. polychroma is growing here in the mountains area of the Negev desert in south of Israel.

Armin,
There are several differences:
*The flowers of Tulipa agenensis are bigger and more reddish than the flowers of Tulipa agenensis subsp. sharonensis.
*The leaves of Tulipa agenensis are more curly and not straight as appear often in Tulipa agenensis subsp. sharonensis.
*Tulipa agenensis grows in the mountains area and Tulipa agenensis subsp. sharonensis grows in the coast plane area.

[Armin]

Miriam,
many thanks for the details. A beauti!

[fermi de Sousa]

Thanks, Miriam, for the pics and the information.
We look forward to seeing more as they flower
cheers
fermi

[BULBISSIME]

Superb pics Miriam, as usual !
we also have a Tulipa agenensis in France ( of course, from Agen city ), almost extinct in the wild, thank's to herbicids.
It looks a bit bigger than your ssp, and leaves seems to be larger.
Very very nice to see the first Tulip flowering now, as we still have 20 cm snow in the garden.....
Thank's for sharing 

[Michael J Campbell]

My first Tulip of spring.

Tulipa orithyioides

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Looking good Michael !!
Is that outside ??
Not even a Tulip bud in sight here yet !!
(7 cm of snow again this morning.... )