Iran 2008

[art600]

Some Irises growing with the tulips at 1830m 

Not sure what 0248 is
I believe 0252 is Iris kopetdaghensis

[art600]

We had hoped to see Fritillaria gibbosa in quantity.  In the end we were grateful to see any, especially when they showed variation in colour.  There was evidence of rust on some plants

[Joakim B]

Arthur or Art (What do You prefer?)
Great plants and so different from what one normally sees.
Thanks for this round. Maybe someone can identify the tulips with the funny foliage.
I hope You have more to show.
Kind regards
Joakim

[art600]

Joakim

There are lots more to post, including a host of Iris meda in many colours.

Art

[art600]

Some attractive Iris acutiloba - possibly ewbvankiana.  Growing at 800m

[art600]

We were priveliged to visit the Golestan National Park.  This was the Shah's hunting area and is enclosed by a chain link fence.
Even though we had a permit, it took 2 hours to validate it at the Rangers' station.

We had hoped to see Crocus almehensis, but we were informed that they were over.

As the animals were breeding, we would not be permitted to take our bus into the park and would be required to walk!

It was a blisteringly hot day, but we decided that we would walk to see Fritillaria raddeana - these had been glorious in 2006 (I was not on this trip)

0279  View after approx 15 mins walking
0280  Looking back to the park entrance - in the far distance
0287  Because of the presence of predators, we were accompanied by an armed guard - he was very interested in the plants and took notes from us

[art600]

Eventually after about one hour we reached the site of Fritillaria raddeana.  They were over!

[ian mcenery]

Amazing landscape and plants Arthur. How difficult is it to organise  a trip in Iran these days and what restrictions are there?

Ian

[art600]

Amazing landscape and plants Arthur. How difficult is it to organise  a trip in Iran these days and what restrictions are there?

Ian

Ian

Remarkably simple to organise - you have to use an agent in Iran to do the booking etc, but otherwise you decide the itinerary, how many people you plan to have in the group and when you want to go.

Our leader is planning to go again next year - can send you an email with her details if you would like.  Can certainly recommend her, after all I have been 3 times.

[Carlo]

I'd like the contact information. Although others in the forum may be interested, feel free to email me personally if that suits you better. Thanks...this is a fascinating country.

[ian mcenery]

Thanks Arthur I will email you separately

[Lvandelft]

Very interesting these pictures, Arthur. So  good to see the habitats of these
plants we not often see. Interesting to see these tulips in nature.
Must have been a wonderful trip, despite you did not see as many plants in flower,
as you hoped for. Thank you for showing these pictures.
And... photo's of other things than plants are very welcome.

[art600]

Some more Iris acutiloba

[art600]

After seeing that the Fritillaria raddeana had flowered, the ranger asked if we would like to see Jungle or Desert.  We all chose Jungle as it sounded vaguely cooler than desert.  It turned out to be a walk through dense forest.  We were delighted to see our first orchid and an allium in flower.

The group photo shows us after the 'jungle' - think the others were lost in it!

0288  Monkey  orchid
0292  Allium chelotum
0295  Allium closeup

[art600]

We spent the night before one of our most successful days in a town house.  Very clean, a kitchen to prepare food, and blankets and pillows - no beds.  Even though I am well padded it was very uncomfortable.  I did not think I had slept a wink, but my friends assured me I had - my snoring had kept them awake.  If you want to see the flowers it is sometimes necessary to suffer. 
Next to the OLANG Pass.  This was quite, by comparison, a very floriferous area.  We were too late to see Galanthus transcaucasica in flower but judging by the numbers found in seed it must have been breathtaking.  They were found from 1800m to 2000m

We did find Alliums by a stream and an ornithogalum.  There was much evidence of Crocus speciosus and reticulate irises, sadly long since over.

Some of the group decided to climb to the top of the ridge where we had lunch.  they were rewarded by finding Fritillaria grandiflora in flower - I will post photos when I receive copies of their CDs.

0297  Allium sp.
0299  Allium closeup
0300  Ornithogalum  Could this be O. bungei
0301  Ornithogalum ?bungei