Description
(syn. Iris nazarena and I. nazarensis, also incorrectly seen Iris bismarkiana (without the “c”) )
This makes short, narrow and insubstantial-looking stoloniferous rhizomes which make a small clump of short, sword-shaped, erect leaves and a slender 30-50cm tall stem with a solitary flower up to 15cm in diameter. This has a yellow to creamy, white or even pale greenish ground covered with reddish-brown, violet brown or purple-blue veining. The standards are much paler and lightly veined only, whilst the falls are darker coloured due to much heavier veining. The colour is however variable.
Introduced to cultivation in 1888 by Messrs. Dammann & Co of Naples and named for Prince Otto von Bismark
It is a very rare species under risk of extinction, from urbanisation, grazing and forest planting in Israel where it is both strictly protected and declining, even within reserves. In Lebanon, it is known from only one area where the threat is from housing and road building.
Our true stock is very limited and is propagated from cultivated plants which are in turn traceable to Serada, which is the only location of this Iris in Lebanon. The plant in the illustration however is from Mount Yona, Nazareth, Israel. The picture was taken by (and is copyright of) Zachi Evenor and is used under CC BY 3.0
Introduced to our lists June 2018
