Iris Sofarana: A Species Endemic to Lebanon Only!

The Iris sofarana is a unique plant species from the Iris genus that is endemic only to Lebanon, more specifically the high-altitude mountains of Lebanon. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has not assessed this species yet, but preliminary studies conducted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, suggest that it is highly threatened due to unsustainable grazing, agricultural activities, and construction activities. Another important threat to the Iris sofarana is the beauty of its flower, making it prone to uncontrolled collection by locals and plant traders. Hence, this prevents the flower seeds to settle in the natural environment, thus reducing its regeneration rate.