Iris bismarckiana

Iris bismarckiana, the Nazareth iris, is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the mountainsides of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. It has stoloniferous, spreading rhizomes, long, sword shaped, bright green leaves, long slender stem (taller than the leaves) and 1 flower in Spring (between March and April). The large flower is pale yellow, creamy-white, or white background. Which is covered with reddish-brown, maroon brown, purple-brown, purple, blue-purple, or blue veins, markings or spots. It has a dark signal patch and dark purple to black beard. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions (i.e. Europe or America), as it needs very dry conditions during the summer.

Description
Iris bismarckiana is similar in growth to Iris susiana and Iris lortetii, (both also Oncocyclus Irises), they only differ in the colour of the flowers.

It is a geophyte,  It has short, stoloniferous rhizomes,  which are narrow, around 1.5 cm in diameter. It forms long thin stolons, that can reach up to a few meters, into the ground, seeking minerals. The rhizomes and stolons are very prone to viral diseases. The creeping, habit forms small clumps of plants.

It has 6–8 leaves, which are ensiform (sword-shaped), glaucous, and bright green. They can grow up to between 30 - 50 cm long, and between 2–2.5 cm wide. They form erect fans of leaves, which are similar in form to I. susiana leaves.

It has a long, slender stem, or peduncle, that can grow up to between 30 - 50 cm tall. Although, some stems can reach 80 cm tall. The stem is usually taller than the leaves.

The stem has a green, lanceolate, spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which is 7.6 cm long.

The stems holds 1 terminal (top of stem) flower, blooming in spring, between March and April. In the UK, it flowered in May.

The flowers are 10 - 15 cm in diameter,   and they have a pale yellow,  yellow-green, cream, creamy-white,  or white ground. Which is covered with reddish-brown, maroon brown,  purple-brown,   purple, blue-purple,  light violet, lilac, or blue veins or spots.

Like other irises, it has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or tepals), known as the 'standards'. It has ovate shaped falls,  which are 6 - 7 cm long and 4 cm wide. They are densely spotted or veined and have a purple-brown, or dark purple signal patch. The signal is at the entrance to the perianth. It is similar coloured to the spotting or veining. In the middle of the falls, a row of short hairs called the 'beard', which is dark purple,   or blackish. The standards are much paler (in colour) than the falls, and are orbicular (circular), which are 7 - 9 cm long. They have paler veining or spotting as well, in blue purple, purple or blue. The flowers are very similar in form to I. susiana.

It has oblong shaped stigmas, which are a similar colour to the petals, and are also densely veined. It relies on a small number of pollinator species whose pollinators are specialists.

After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule, that opens up into three sections, to hold multiple seeds.

Genetics
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. It was counted by Marc Simonet in 1934. It has twenty chromosomes (2n=20).

Taxonomy
It is commonly known as Nazareth Iris,  due to being found on the mountains near Nazareth in Israel. It is known in Arabic as 'Saoosan' (A-Natsir), or سوسنة الناصره. while in Hebrew, it is written as אִירוּס נָצְרָתִי.

It is occasionally misspelt as Iris bismarkiana.

The Latin specific epithet bismarckiana refers to Prince Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898, 1st Chancellor of the German Empire).

In 1888, rhizomes of the plant were sent from Lebanon to Germany, by Messrs. Dammann & Co., of Naples. It was then described by E. Dammann and Carl Sprenger in Wiener Illustr. Gartzeitung (Wien. Gartenz.)  Vol.352. fig. 72 in 1890 (with an illustration). It was then widely published by Regel in Vol.17 of Wiener Illustr. Gartzeitung on page 855 in 1892. In 1893, Foster described a new iris species, ''Iris sari var. nazarensis'' from the Nazareth area in Israel, (in Gardener's Chronicle Vol. 33, ) but then in 1904, (in Botanical Magazine Vol.7986, ) Sprenger thought the two plants were the same. In 1934, John Edward Dinsmore published two species called Iris nazarena (from Nazareth) and Iris hermona (from the Golan Heights). Later, in 1970, Mouterde decided all the species were one type 'I. bismarckiana'. 'I. sari var. nazarensis' and 'I. nazarena' became synonyms of 'I. bismarckiana'. In 1972, Avishai disagreed, and thought that Iris hermona was a separate species, especially due to the rhizome differences (stoloniferous in 'I. bismarckiana' and compact in 'I. hermona'). Feinbrun-Dothan in 1986 agreed. It is listed as 'I. bismarckiana' Damm. & Spreng ex Regel.

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 10 March 1997, and then last changed on 1 December 2004.

It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life, and in the Catalogue of Life.

It is an accepted name by the RHS.

Distribution and habitat
It is native to south Lebanon and northern Israel.

Range
It is found in Israel,  (including in the provinces of Upper and Lower Galilee,  on Mount Hermon,   on Mt. Yona,   and on Mount Tabor, ) Lebanon,  (on Mount Lebanon, and in Wadi Rajib, near Adjloon,  ) Syria,   and Jordan,  (on the Gilead Mountains).

Habitat
It grows on the rocky and stony mountain-sides,  at the edges of woodlands,  or in scrub land. It can be found on heavy, limestone clays, basalt (rocks), or terra rossa and soft chalky rocks. They can be found at an altitude of up to 1300 m above sea level.

Conservation
It is a very rare iris, and was under risk of extinction, from threats of urbanization, animal grazing and forestry (creating plantations) with in Israel. In Lebanon, it was threatened by housing and road construction on its habitats. It was listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as Endangered when last assessed on 2 May 2016.

Within Israel, the species is protected by law, and it is grown in several nature reserves, including the Giv'at Ha-More Nature Reserve and in some of the smaller Reserves on Naphtali hill. Although, it is still declining in populations in the reserves.

In Upper Nazareth, Israel, a residential neighbourhood was planned, but it clashed with hundreds of irises. So a section of land was turned into a nature reserve to protect them.

It is further threatened with the reserves, by an invasive weed, Sarcopoterium spinosum (or Prickly burnet), a common dwarf shrub which competes with the iris for space. Although, it was found if the weed was burned in patches the iris grew stronger. It is also threatened by caterpillars (who feed on the iris flower-buds).

Cultivation
It is hardy to European Zone H4, meaning hardy to −5 to −10 °C (or 23 to 14 °F). It was cultivated in Naples, in 1888, but soon its growth suffered, due to the environmental conditions. It is considered rather difficult to cultivate, due to it needing high temperatures and dryness. It is thought to be best planted in October, by William Rickatson Dykes.

Propagation
Irises can generally be propagated by division, or by seed growing. Irises generally require a period of cold, then a period of warmth and heat, also they need some moisture. Some seeds need stratification, (the cold treatment), which can be carried out indoors or outdoors. Seedlings are generally potted on (or transplanted) when they have 3 leaves.

Hybrids and cultivars
Known I. bismarkiana cultivars include 'Benjaminii', 'Nazarena' and 'Nazarena Thompsoni'.

Toxicity
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.

Uses
It is normally used as a garden ornamental plant, but they have also been planted in cemeteries, including in Rajib.

The iris rhizome has been used in a perfume called 'Iris Nazarena', by Aedes de Venustas, a New York-based fragrance boutique.

Culture
One source states that the iris was chosen, as the logo of The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, but it is in fact Iris haynei (the Gilboa Iris).

The 'Nazareth Iris' is known as the symbol of the city of Nof HaGalil.