Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 125, May 2015. pp. 1-18. | Page 2

2 Plants Unique to Palestine: Among about 165 vascular plant species known solely from Palestine are the Palestine Iris Iris Palaestina, the Dark-purple Iris Iris atropurpurea, the Mount Gilboa Iris Iris haynei, the Sharon Plain Sedge Cyperus sharonensis, the Palestine Bedstraw Galium philistaeum, the Israel Orchid Anacamptis israelitica, the Tel Aviv Stork's Bill Erodium telavivense, a sorrel Rumex aeroplaniformis, the Jaffa Groundsel Senecio joppensis, the Har Ramon Buffonia Bufonia ramonensis, the Har Ramon Caper Shrub Capparis ramonensis, the Naqab Alkanet Hormuzakia negevensis, the Danin Fennel Ferula daninii, the Plantain Plantago sabulosa, the Naqab Onion Allium negevense, and Allium tardiflorum. Mosheovia is sometimes considered an endemic genus distinct from the widespread Scrophularia (Living National Treasures; Khalaf-von Jaffa, 2012). Jaffa Groundsel Senecio joppensis. Kuwait. Photo by: Carol Spears. 26.02.2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senecio_glaucus#mediaviewer/File:Senecio_glaucus_Kuwai t.jpg Palestine and Israel are included in the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot. Important terrestrial ecoregions include the Eastern Mediterranean Conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf Forests and the Southern Anatolian Montane Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 125 – May 2015