Iris albicans
Encyclopedia
Iris albicans, also known as the Cemetery Iris, White Cemetery Iris, or the White Flag Iris, is a species of iris
which was planted on graves in Muslim regions and grows in many countries throughout the Middle East and northern Africa. It was later introduced to Spain, and then other European countries. It is a natural hybrid.
It grows to 30-60 cm tal. The leaves are grey-green, and broadly sword-shaped. The inflorescence is fan-shaped and contains two or three fragrant flowers. The flowers are grey or silvery in bud, and are white or off-white and 8cm wide in bloom. It is a sterile
hybrid, and spreads by rhizomal growth and division, as it cannot produce seeds.
I. albicans has been cultivated since ancient times and may be the oldest iris in cultivation. Collected by Lange
in 1860, it has been in cultivation since at least 1400 BC. Originating from Yemen
and Saudi Arabia
, it appears in a wall painting of the Botanical Garden
of Tuthmosis III in the Temple of Amun at Karnak
in ancient Thebes dated around 1426 BC.
Iris (plant)
Iris is a genus of 260-300species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species...
which was planted on graves in Muslim regions and grows in many countries throughout the Middle East and northern Africa. It was later introduced to Spain, and then other European countries. It is a natural hybrid.
It grows to 30-60 cm tal. The leaves are grey-green, and broadly sword-shaped. The inflorescence is fan-shaped and contains two or three fragrant flowers. The flowers are grey or silvery in bud, and are white or off-white and 8cm wide in bloom. It is a sterile
Sterility (physiology)
Sterility is the physiological inability to effect sexual reproduction in a living thing, members of whose kind have been produced sexually. The term may be used in reference to* types of organism, such as the mule, a sterile hybrid;...
hybrid, and spreads by rhizomal growth and division, as it cannot produce seeds.
I. albicans has been cultivated since ancient times and may be the oldest iris in cultivation. Collected by Lange
Johan Martin Christian Lange
Johan Martin Christian Lange was a prominent Danish botanist.He held the post of Librarian at the Botanical library of the University of Copenhagen from 1851 to 1858...
in 1860, it has been in cultivation since at least 1400 BC. Originating from Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, it appears in a wall painting of the Botanical Garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
of Tuthmosis III in the Temple of Amun at Karnak
Karnak
The Karnak Temple Complex—usually called Karnak—comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amun and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II . Sacred Lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some...
in ancient Thebes dated around 1426 BC.