Iris mariae Barbey

Today we found hundreds clumps of the rare and endemic Iris mariae. It is the southernmost of the Oncocyclus irises - a group of species typical to SW Asia. Its exciting to see them again every year. This species grows in Israel and Egypt (N Sinai). It is a narrow endemic and threatened species. The main threats is habitat loss and over grazing.

as u can see, I cannot get enough with the irises...

Iris mariae is one of the rarest irises in Israel. It grows only in the sandy areas of the western Negev Desert and across the border in Egypt (N Sinai). It is threatened by overgrazing and unofrtunately most of its populations are located outside nature reserves. This is the southernmost and most arid Oncocylus iris.

and another look at this marvelous iris. Iris mariae is one of the rarest irises in Israel. It grows only in the sandy areas of the western Negev Desert and across the border in Egypt (N Sinai). It is threatened by overgrazing and unofrtunately most of its populations are located outside nature reserves. This is the southernmost and most arid Oncocylus iris.

Iris mariae is one of the rarest irises. It grows only in the sandy areas of the western Negev Desert (Israel) and across the border in Egypt (N Sinai). It is threatened by overgrazing and unofrtunately most of its populations are located outside nature reserves. This is the southernmost and most arid Oncocylus iris.

Iris mariae is one of the rarest irises in Israel. It grows only in the sandy areas of the western Negev Desert and across the border in Egypt (N Sinai). It is threatened by overgrazing and unofrtunately most of its populations are not in nature reserves.

A pale form of Iris mariae, a rare endemic species of S Israel. Iris mariae is one of the rarest irises in Israel. It grows only in the sandy areas of the western Negev Desert and across the border in Egypt (N Sinai). It is threatened by overgrazing and unofrtunately most of its populations are located outside nature reserves. This is the southernmost and most arid Oncocylus iris.

and more of this magnificent flower. Iris mariae is one of the rarest irises in Israel. It grows only in the sandy areas of the western Negev Desert and across the border in Egypt (N Sinai). It is threatened by overgrazing and unofrtunately most of its populations are located outside nature reserves. This is the southernmost and most arid Oncocylus iris.

Iris mariae is one of the rarest irises. It grows only in the sandy areas of the western Negev Desert (Israel) and across the border in Egypt (N Sinai). It is threatened by overgrazing and unofrtunately most of its populations are located outside nature reserves. This is the southernmost and most arid Oncocylus iris.

Iris mariae is one of the rarest irises in Israel. It grows only in the sandy areas of the western Negev Desert and across the border in Egypt (N Sinai). It is threatened by overgrazing and unfortunately most of its populations are located outside nature reserves. This is the southernmost and most arid Oncocylus iris.

Iris mariae is a rare speccies in Israel. It grows only in the sandy areas of the western Negev Desert and across the border in Egypt (N Sinai). It is threatened by overgrazing and unofrtunately most of its populations are located outside nature reserves. This is the southernmost and most arid Oncocylus iris.