Flora of Western Asia

Rye (Secale cereale) is a grass grown extensively as a grain, a cover crop and a forage crop. It is grown principally in an area from Eastern and Northern Europe into Russia. It is much more tolerant of cold weather and poor soil than other cereals, making it useful in those regions; its vigorous growth suppresses weeds and provides abundant forage for animals early in the year. It is a member of the wheat tribe (Triticeae) which includes the cereals wheat and barley. It is likely that rye arrived in Europe as a secondary crop, meaning that it was a minor admixture in wheat as a result of

Vicia faba, commonly known as the broad bean, fava bean, or faba bean, is a species of vetch, a flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. It is widely cultivated as a crop for human consumption, and also as a cover crop. Varieties with smaller, harder seeds that are fed to horses or other animals are called field bean, tic bean or tick bean. This legume is commonly consumed in many national and regional cuisines. Some people have favism, a hemolytic response to the consumption of broad beans, a condition linked to a metabolic disorder known as G6PDD. Otherwise the beans, with the

Morus nigra, or the black mulberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae that is native to southwestern Asia, where it has been cultivated for so long that its precise natural range is unknown. The black mulberry is known for its large number of chromosomes.

Ferula assa-foetida is a species of Ferula endemic to Southern Iran. It is a source of asafoetida, but not the main source, although many sources claim so. The production of asafoetida from this species is confined to Southern Iran, especially the area near Lar. Outside its native range, other asafoetida-producing species are often misidentified as F. assa-foetida. For example, F. foetida is mistaken for F. assa-foetida in Flora of the U.S.S.R. and Flora of Pakistan. In a molecular phylogenetic study, all the plant samples of F. assa-foetida collected in Central Iran were not the true

Alcea rosea, the common hollyhock, is an ornamental dicot flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It was imported into Europe from southwestern China during, or possibly before, the 15th century. William Turner, a herbalist of the time, gave it the name "holyoke" from which the English name derives.

Tulipa gesneriana, the Didier's tulip or garden tulip, is a species of plant in the lily family, cultivated as an ornamental in many countries because of its large, showy flowers. This tall, late-blooming species has a single blooming flower and linear or broadly lanceolate leaves. This is a complex hybridized neo-species, and can also be called Tulipa × gesneriana. Most of the cultivars of tulip are derived from Tulipa gesneriana. It has become naturalised in parts of central and southern Europe and scattered locations in North America.

Quercus alnifolia, commonly known as the golden oak, is an evergreen oak species of Cyprus. Its common English name refers to the golden coloured lower surface of its leaves. Quercus alnifolia belongs to the endemic flora of the island and it is confined to the igneous geological complex of the Troodos Mountains. In February 2006, the parliament of Cyprus selected the golden oak to be the country's national tree.

Crocus ancyrensis, sometimes known as the Ankara crocus, (Turkish: Ankara çiğdemi) is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is endemic to North and Central Turkey. It was named ancyrensis as it was first discovered in Ankara.

Allium hollandicum, the Persian onion or Dutch garlic, is a species of flowering plant native to Iran and Kyrgyzstan but widely cultivated as an ornamental because of its umbels of attractive purple flowers. It is reportedly naturalized in Saint Louis County, Minnesota. Allium hollandicum is a bulb-forming perennial with scapes up to 90 cm (35 in) tall. It has long, flat, strap-shaped leaves up to 60 cm (24 in) long. Umbels are relatively small and spherical, up to 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter, composed of many purple to reddish-purple star-shaped flowers appearing in late spring and early

Cyclamen cyprium (Cyprus cyclamen) is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It is a perennial growing from a tuber, native to woodland at 300–1,200 m (980–3,940 ft) elevation in the mountains of Cyprus. It is the national flower. Cyclamen persicum and Cyclamen graecum are also found on Cyprus, but are not endemic.

Scilla luciliae is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is referred to by the common names Bossier's glory-of-the-snow or Lucile's glory-of-the-snow, and is a bulbous perennial from western Turkey that flowers in early spring. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring. The specific epithet is in honour of Lucile, the wife of the Swiss botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810-1885). It belongs to a group of Scilla species that were formerly put in a separate genus, Chionodoxa, and may now be treated as Scilla sect. Chionodoxa.

Quercus vulcanica is a species of flowering plant in the Fagaceae family. It is referred to by the common name Kasnak oak, and is a rare species of tree native to Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. It is placed in section Quercus. Quercus vulcanica is highly valued in its native region as a source of lumber and also as an ornamental. It is a large tree up to 33 metres (108 feet) tall, with a trunk sometimes attaining 150 centimetres (59 inches) in diameter. The bark is gray and fissured. The leaves are up to 16 cm (6+1⁄4 in) long, egg-shaped with deep lobes, green on the top but yellow-green on the

Cyclamen libanoticum (Lebanon cyclamen) is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It is native to a small area in the mountains of Lebanon northeast of Beirut at 750–1,400 m (2,460–4,590 ft) elevation, in and around Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve. From winter to spring, it bears peppery-smelling flowers with 5 oval petals opening white, then turning pale pink, usually with an irregular crimson-magenta mark at the base. Leaves are heart-shaped, gray-green with a darker arrowhead pattern. The tuber only produces roots from one side of the bottom. Cyclamen ×wellensiekii Iets. is

Cyclamen cilicium is a species of flowering perennial plant in the family Primulaceae. It is native to coniferous woodland at 700–2,000 m (2,300–6,600 ft) elevation in the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey.

Iris nigricans is a flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is the national flower of Jordan. The flowers are blackish-purple and 12–15 centimetres (4.7–5.9 in) in diameter, and the plants are 35 cm (14 in) tall with recurved leaves. It needs direct sun and sharp drainage. It is endemic to Jordan and is an endangered species. There are 8 other irises native to Jordan, and most of these are also endangered. The species bearing black flowers are sometimes confused with Iris nigricans. Iris vartanii - Vartanii Iris - light blue flowers - extinct in Jordan Iris atrofusca - Jil'ad Iris - black

Crataegus tanacetifolia, the tansy-leaved thorn, is a species of hawthorn. It is native to Turkey where it occurs on dry slopes or in rocky places, usually on calcareous rocks. It is a deciduous tree that grows up to 10 metres in height and 8 metres in width The fruit, is 10–14 mm or up to 25 mm in diameter, orange or rarely red in colour. It can be consumed fresh or cooked.

Allium libani (Lebanese garlic ثوم لبناني ) is a species of wild bulbous plant geophyte of the genus Allium, belonging to the family of Amaryllidaceae. Allium libani is endemic to the Middle East in Lebanon and Syria.

Scilla sardensis, the lesser glory-of-the-snow, is a bulbous perennial from west Turkey flowering in early spring. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring. It belongs to a group of Scilla species that were formerly put in a separate genus, Chionodoxa, and may now be treated as Scilla sect. Chionodoxa.

Iris haynei, the Gilboa iris (Hebrew: אירוס הגלובע, romanized: Irous HaGilboa; Arabic: سوسن فقوعة, romanized: Sawsan Faqquʽa), is a plant species in the genus Iris, subgenus Iris and section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the shrublands and mountainsides mostly in Israel and Palestine, on the Mount Gilboa. The Iris haynei is considered to be the national flower of Palestine. It has smooth, linear or lanceolate, greyish-green leaves and a long slender stem and, between March and April, large fragrant flowers in shades of deep purple, violet, purple, brownish purple or dusky

Allium akaka is a species of onion native to Iran. formerly included Several infraspecific names have been coined referring to taxa now generally considered distinct species not to be included in Allium akaka. We give links here to help you locate appropriate information Allium akaka subsp. haemanthoides (Boiss. & Reut. ex Regel) Wendelbo, now synonym of Allium haemanthoides Boiss. & Reut. ex Regel Allium akaka f. major Turrill, now synonym of Allium ubipetrense R.M.Fritsch Allium akaka var. regale Tamamsch, now synonym of Allium materculae Bordz. Allium akaka subsp. shelkovnikovii (Grossh.)

Scilla forbesii, known as Forbes' glory-of-the-snow, is a bulbous perennial plant from west Turkey flowering in early spring. It is considered synonymous with Scilla siehei, known as Siehe's glory-of-the-snow, by some sources, although others distinguish them. It belongs to a group of Scilla species that were formerly put in a separate genus, Chionodoxa, and may now be treated as Scilla sect. Chionodoxa. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring. It seeds readily to form colonies.

Salvia eigii is a herbaceous perennial native to Israel. The plant grows in a clump 30 cm high by 60 cm wide, with dark green leaves, the largest of which grow up to 30 cm long and 20 cm wide. The flower stalk grows up to 1 m high, with several 20–30 cm inflorescences which hold flowers growing in whorls. The flower's upper lip is purple, the lower lip is pink, with ruby lines going into the throat. The calyx is a prominent ruby color. Salvia eigii is named after the botanist Alexander Eig.

Phlomis russeliana, Turkish sage, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Turkey and Syria in south west Asia. It is often confused with the closely related P. samia, and wrongly marketed as Phlomis viscosa. Growing to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, it is a herbaceous perennial with hairy, erect stems. The textured, grey-green, sage-like leaves are arrow shaped, and point downwards. In summer, whorls of green buds develop in the leaf axils at regular intervals up each vertical stem, giving a distinctive tiered effect. The buds open to globose clusters of dull yellow hooded

Iris danfordiae, the dwarf iris or Danford iris, is a bulbous perennial plant in the genus Iris, it is classified in the subgenus Hermodactyloides and section Reticulatae. It is from Turkey in Asia. It has 2 gray-green or bluish green, thick leaves, short slender stem holding a scented flower, in shades of yellow. They are spotted olive-green or green and have a deep yellow or orange crest.

Arabis kennedyae, the Troodos rockcress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is endemic to Cyprus. Its natural habitat is Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Allium tardiflorum is a plant species found in Israel. It is a bulb-forming perennial producing an umbel of flowers late in the season, in September or October. Flowers are on long pedicels, forming a lax umbel. Tepals are green with purple midveins and purple margins.

Salvia caespitosa is a herbaceous perennial native to rocky limestone and volcanic slopes, at 4600–7900 ft elevation, in central and southern Anatolia. It has been grown in horticulture since the 1950s, typically in rock gardens, due to its dwarf, mat-growing habit. Caespitosa refers to its habit of "growing in dense clumps or tufts", with divided leaves and stems that grow in bunches, rather than being evenly spaced. The pale pinkish lilac flowers, about 1.6 in long, grow on very short inflorescences that are barely longer than the leaf.

Muscari latifolium, the broad-leaved grape hyacinth, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. The Latin specific epithet latifolium means "broad-leaved".

Muscari aucheri, Aucher-Éloy grape hyacinth, is a species of flowering plant in the squill subfamily Scilloideae of the asparagus family Asparagaceae. It is a perennial bulbous plant, one of a number of species and genera known as grape hyacinths. Originally from Turkey, where it grows in grassy alpine areas, it is sometimes grown as an ornamental plant. The synonym M. tubergenianum (also spelt M. tubergianum) may be found in the horticultural literature. The Latin specific epithet aucheri honours the French pharmacist and botanist Pierre Martin Rémi Aucher-Éloy (1792–1838) (one of numerous

Iris hermona, the Golan iris, is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris, and in the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the pastures and meadows of the Golan Heights in Israel and Syria. It has linear, upright leaves, tall slender stem holding a bi-coloured flower, having a pale lilac, cream-yellow, light tan, or white background, which is then covered in purple brown, or purple, or purple-pink veining, spots or speckling. It has a round purple-brown or almost black signal patch, and a sparse purple brown or almost black beard. It is rarely