Mary’s iris

Iris mariae, Iris barnumiae var. mariae, Mary’s iris,
Hebrew: איריס הנגב,Arabic: السوسن البحري

Scientific name:   Iris mariae Barbey
Synonym name:   Iris barnumiae var. mariae (Barbey) Dykes,
Iris helenae Barbey ex Boiss
Common name:   Mary’s iris
Hebrew name:   אירוס הנגב
Arabic name:   السوسن البحري
Family:   Iridaceae, Iris family, אירוסיים


Location: Kibbutz Nir-Yitzhak
Life form:   Geophyte
Stems:   Height 10-30cm
Leaves:   Rosette, alternate, entire, smooth margin
Inflorescence:   Each stalk bearing a single flower
Flowers:   Lilach, Violet, marked with veins; the standard is larger and more rounded than the fall; the claw of the fall is beset by numerous deep purple hairs
Fruits / pods:   Capsule which opens up in three parts to reveal the numerous seeds within
Flowering Period:   Februar, March
Habitat:   Sandy semidesert, semi stabilized or stabilized sands, sand-loess soil
Distribution:   Shrub-steppes, Semi-steppe shrublands
Chorotype:   Saharo-Arabian
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Location: Kibbutz Nir-Yitzhak

Derivation of the botanical name:

Iris, ιριϛ, ιδοϛ, rainbow; female messenger, announcer of the gods, the Greek goddess of the rainbow.

mariae, named for William Barbey’s mother. He first called it Iris helenae but changed to mariae when it was pointed out that there was already an Iris helena. Her name was Helene Marie Iselin (1811 – 1891),
barnumiae, named for the second wife of missionary Henry Samuel Barnum. She was born Helen Randle (Winnipauk CT 1842 – Istanbul 1914)
helenae for Helen.
Oncocyclus is a section within the Subgenus Iris. Oncocyclus, Greek onco, swollen; with a circular swelling; refers to the fleshy aril on the seeds of these plants. The Section Oncocyclus is one of the larger sections of Genus Iris and these includes the following species we can find in Israel: Iris atrofusca, Iris atropurpurea, Iris bismarkiana, Iris haynei, Iris hermona, Iris lortetii, Iris mariae, Iris nigricans, Iris petrana. Section Oncocyclus – A Section within the Subgenus Iris.

The Hebrew name: אירוס, iris, transliteration from the scientific name.

  • The standard author abbreviation Barbey is used to indicate William Barbey (1842 -1 914), a Swiss philanthropist and botanist.



Location: Kibbutz Nir-Yitzhak

Location: Kibbutz Nir-Yitzhak see:

1.Shefela, Hamra hill, near Palmahim, שמורת גבעת חומרה

2.Shefela, The Pura Nature Reserve, שמורת פורה see:

Israel Philatelic Federation Independence Day Stamps – 1970 Flowers of Israel ”Iris Mariae”