Iris vartanii

It has four leaves that are un-equalsided and up to 20 cm tall (when in flower), but that increases to nearly 40 cm later. It flowers between October and December. The flowers are greyish lilac-white, (or slaty blue So it is best grown like other species of iris in an alpine house or bulb frame. It is hardy to USDA Zone 3. Like other members of the reticulata group (including Iris danfordiae), it has the habit of the main bulb splitting into many bulblets, that can take many years (between 2–3 years) to reach flowering size again. ==Distribution==

It was originally found near the city of Nazareth in Israel. On rocky hillsides. It is found in Golan, Galilee, Mount Carmel, Samarian desert and Judean Mountains, various regions of Levantine. But according to Dr Dawud Al-Eisawi's book Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Jordan (1998), it is now thought to be extinct in Jordan. ==Cultivar==

I. vartanii White pearl First found in 1910 in Beersheba and Hebron, It is sometimes referred to as Iris vartanii var. alba. ==References==

• Danin, A. 2004. Distribution atlas of plants in the Flora Palaestina area. • Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 179. • Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966–. Flora palaestina. ==External links==