Tulip

common in the East Tien Shan

common in the East Tien Shan

This is the wild tulip fruit. It is dry, full of orange seeds. In summer it opens gradually and the seed disperse. Tulipa agenensis is an east Mediterranean, red-flowered species. Here it occurs in relatively high altitude - 1800m.

Tulips are long gone in the lowlands, they bloom now in Mt Hermon.

Tulipa agenensis is a polymorphic bulb of the eastern Mediterranean. This one was found in Mt Hermon, 1500 m. Slopes of Man Vall;ey, where it is locally common. The species is protected in Israel. Recently it was cultivated successfully.

Wild tulips favour often rocky habitats, where its hard for animals to dig them up. Mole-rats, procupine love them...

Mt Hermon is full with these tulips in May. These 3 were nicely lined ...

A common variable tulip in Israel and its surroundings. Here you can see a coastal population in which the plants are very short, but striking though.

A common variable tulip in Israel and its surroundings. Here you can see a coastal population in which the plants are very short, but striking though.

A common variable tulip in Israel and its surroundings. Here you can see a coastal population in which the plants are very short, but striking though.

Tulipa agenensis is a common and protected bulbous plant in Israel. Its yellow pollen is emphasized by the black patches at the base of the tepals.

Sorry to bombard with these tulips, but we enjoyed them so much, so I'm trying to path these feelings. Tulipa biflora often has two flowers branching from one stem, this is the source of the name biflora. This desert tulip is very rare in Israel, it occurs only in the central Negev Highlands (900 m.), but locally very common. The bright flowers are difficult to photograph since the desert background in very pale, my friends shaded the background and it worked well.

Tulipa biflora is in peak blooming today, we saw millions of them, each so delicate and beautiful. It is a steppe species, occuring in Israel only in the Negev Highlands.

In early March, in rainy years, the Negev Highlands are full of these small delightful tulpis.

This desert tulip is very rare in Israel, it occurs only in the central Negev Highlands (900 m.), but locally very common. The bright flowers are difficult to photograph since the desert background in very pale, my friends shaded the background and it worked well. More photos of this tulip in the next days.