Negev Desert - Israel

[Oron Peri]

The Negev desert is one of the areas in Israel that remained untouched until now,
its flora and fauna are extremely rich, spring arrived earlier this year due to high temperatures lasting over the last 10 days.

Capra nubiana is a successful story, there were only a few exemplars left 40 years ago, now a days there are a few thousands thanks to an excellent breeding program, this is a young male, probably 3-4 years old.

Cistanche salsa is a large parasitic plant, it lacks leaves.

[Oron Peri]

There are different habitats, sandy areas, dry mountains up to 1000m home to a huge selection of bulbous plants.

[Oron Peri]

Erodium crassifolium makes an impressive disply, often covering large areas.
Its young tubers are edible, and used to be eaten by the Bedouins of this area.

[Oron Peri]

Quite a few species of Astragalus are growing in the Negev, here are two representatives.

Among the six species of Adonis growing in Israel, this is the only yellow colored species, it is common in the deserts.

[Rob]

Fantastic thread, thanks for posting.

Its great to see the plants in the wild

[daveyp1970]

Oron that parasitic plant is just stunning,jewels in the desert.Awsome photos

[TheOnionMan]

It is incredible to me, to see such special plants growing in a desert region.  I showed my family the photos, they were particularly impressed by the strange and wonderful Cistanche.  My favorite is the Leontice, gorgeous! 

Are the handsome Adonis and Erodium annual species?

[Armin]

Oron,
wunderful and amazing - I'm hungry for resorbing more marvelous impressions from an alien area.
Thank you in advance for showing us more pictures

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Amazing pictures Oron !
Never thought the desert could hide so many treasures !! 

[Oron Peri]

Thanks everyone, glad you like it.
Mark, the Adonis is annual, the Erodium is a perennial growing from small tubers.

Here are two members of the Araceae , Eminium spiculatum ssp. negevense which is a smaller, less colorfull form of the species and the tiny, extremely rare Biarum olivieri, known only from very few locations in the Negev and North Egypt, it grows in pure sand, seeds develop underground or just showing their heads above ground level.

[Oron Peri]

Other small bulbous plants

[Oron Peri]

Helianthemum vesicarium is a beauty, unfortunately it refuses to live out of its native place.
Sorry some of the photos are out of focus dew to the strong wind.

[BULBISSIME]

Waow !

and you call it a Desert ?? 
I'd like to see the fertile areas 

The Cistanche is really fantastic, as well as Eminum and Erodium and.....
Please sent us some more pics.

[ian mcenery]

Oron a very interesting thread. Fantastic plants  

[ashley]

A wonderful thread Oron; thank you.  All of these plants are superb, but maybe for me the geophytes are best of all!

What does the Cistanche parasitise?