Iris vartanii, Vartan's Iris,
Hebrew: אירוס הסרגל, Arabic: السوسن الفارتاني

Scientific name:  Iris vartanii Foster
Common name:  Vartan's Iris
Hebrew name:  אירוס הסרגל
Arabic name:  السوسن الفارتاني
Family:  Iridaceae, אירוסיים

Wild Flowers of Israel, Flora en Israel
Location: Betah Mountain, Western Galilee

Life form:  Geophyte
Stems:  15-25 cm high
Leaves:  Alternate, rosette, entire, narrow, linear- rod-like; smooth margin
Inflorescence:  Solitary flowers
Flowers:  Light blue flowers and lower perianth lobes (falls) with a protruding yellow ridge; style-crests long and narrow; flowers strongly almond- scented
Flowering Period:  January, February, December
Habitat:  Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:  Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands
Chorotype:  Mediterranean
Summer shedding:  Ephemeral

Betah Mountain, Ein Yaakov, Ain Yakov,Iris vartanii Foster, Vartan's Iris, السوسن الفارتاني,אירוס הסרגל
Location: Betah Mountain, Western Galilee


Derivation of the botanical name:
Iris, ιριϛ, ιδοϛ, rainbow; female messenger, announcer of the gods, the Greek goddess of the rainbow.
vartanii, after Dr. Kaloost Vartan, of Nazareth (1839-1908), an Armenian doctor who qualified from Edinburgh University, and opened the first Nazareth Hospital in a small rented house in 1879. The dispensary he set up was the only hospital between Jersualem, Damascus and Beirut. Dr. Kaloost Vartan was a leading pioneer of preventive medicine in Palestine.
The Hebrew name: אירוס, iris, transliteration from the scientific name.
  • The standard author abbreviation Foster is used to indicate Sir Michael Foster (1836 - 1907), an English physiologist and Member of Parliament.

Flowers of Israel online
Location: Betah Mountain, Western Galilee


Betah Mountain, Ein Yaakov, Ain Yakov,Iris vartanii Foster, Vartan's Iris, السوسن الفارتاني ,אירוס הסרגל
Location: Betah Mountain, Western Galilee


פרחים וצמחי בר בארץ ישראל
Location: Betah Mountain, Western Galilee