Iris haynei is the famous Mt Gilboa Iris. One can find himself in traffic jams on Mt Gilboa in the March weekends, it is a place of pilgrim for nature lovers and iris fans. The huge scented flowers attract male solitary bees that stay in the flower for the night - the bees hotel. Recently it was found out that southwards this species changes gradually into the dark flowered Iris atrofusca.
Iris haynei is a rare-endemic species growing in Mt Gilboa (where this pic was taken) and eastern Samaria.
The flower gets full of male bees towards evening, the bees stay in the flwoer till mornming when they get out with pollen on their back (see pic). This flower is a 'bee hotel' rewarding the bees in nice warm accomodation.
Iris haynei is an endemic species of Israel, with its outstanding huge flower it is a symbol of nature preservation as well as reason for pilgrimage to Mt Gilboa where it grows.