Iris in Jordan 2015- Junos

[Oron Peri]

Just got back from our annual trip to Jordan with another forumist, Fred [BULBISSIME] in search of Jordan's Juno Irises.
Trip was a real success as for the first time we have found all four species in flower at the same time.
The first, Iris edomensis, which  we managed to find the very last flowering plants as this species flowers during January.
I have already shown it here few times but can not resist...sorry. There are no two plants looking a like.
We have done almost 1000 KM in less than three days in order to find all four species.

[Oron Peri]

Two rare species in Jordan;
Iris aucheri and Iris regis-uzziae which appears in Jordan in its yellow form,
We have not found I. regis - uzziae in recent years due to a long lasting drought in the region.

[Oron Peri]

For the last six years i have been going to Jordan in order to find the 'mysterious' Iris postii and never found any trace of it.
Last year Fred found a location but flowers were over.
This year we were sure to find it as it rained in that area at the end of December and indeed we found about thirty plants blooming.
This species grows in the deep deserts of SE Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and in the Eastern Desert of Jordan.
We found it approximately 150 KM before the border with Iraq.
It is probably the first time this species is photographed in the wild and shown on the net, glad i can release these photos at the moment.

[Oron Peri]

The color of Iris postii flowers varies from very pale to the darkest purple or blue.

[Oron Peri]

The few seasonal  plants growing in the area are heavily grazed by sheep and goats, including the iris leaves, but flowers still manage to come out

[Maggi Young]

Oh! My goodness - this is too exciting!  I can't believe you have been able to find all these plants in one trip. And to track down the I. postii in flower- what a TRIUMPH! 
Congratulations and MANY THANKS for sharing this with us here.


I think that there is just this photo of Iris postii in cultivation  at Kew : http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Display+Iris-postii+1

Iris postii Mouterde     Nouv. Fl. Liban 1: 309 1966.  http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-322248

[Yann]

edomensis is fascinating, that's a lucky trip.

[Maggi Young]

Oron, I HAD to give this  Jordan trip its own thread- too important to do otherwise!

[ashley]

Just amazing to see these Oron.  Thank you.

[udo]

Oron, many thanks for this wonderful pictures,
especially Iris postii

[Miriam]

Successful trip indeed!

[Melvyn Jope]

Fabulous Iris, many thanks Oron.

[krisderaeymaeker]

  :

Splendid Oron !  Exciting to see such special , rare  and extremely beautiful Irisses .
Many thanks to share such great pictures with us. 

[Matt T]

These are all stunning plants, Oron, but I'm really taken with your first photo of 'Iris edomensis, Shoubak'. What a subtley beautiful plant.

Seeing the habitat photos is enlightening too and the reason I'll not be trying to grow them here! 

[Hans A.]

Fabulous Oron!!!
I can really imagine how you both jumped around when you found Iris postii in flower!