Description
It is similar in form to Iris humilis (another Psammiris species). [2]
It has a thick, short, irregularly shaped, fibrous rhizome. [3] [4] [5] They are 0.5–1.5 cm (0–1 in) in diameter. [6] Under the rhizome are numerous yellow-white, secondary roots. [5] [7] On top of the rhizome, are the brown, fibrous remains of old leaves. [3] [4] [8] The rhizome has many branches, creating a slowly, creeping plant. [3] [9]
It has 2–4 [4] linear, [5] [6] [9] lanceolate, [4] [9] or sword-shaped basal leaves. [3] [5] [7] They are slightly curved or sickle-shaped. [3] [4] [7] They appear in spring, as broad, brown shoots, [10] before turning greyish green [3] [5] [8] or light green. [11] They can grow up to between 8 and 12 cm (3 and 5 in) long and between 4 and 8 mm wide at blooming time. [3] [7] Later, they extend up to between 15 and 25 cm (6 and 10 in) long and between 8 and 13 mm wide. [6] [7] [10] They have 5–6 longitudinal veins, but no central mid-vein. [3] [7] [12] The leaves are deciduous, and die away after flowering. [5] [10]
It has a slender, erect stem, that can reach up to between 8 and 10 cm (3 and 4 in) long. [3] [7] After flowering, the stem extends up to 35 cm (14 in) long. [13] [14] [15] It is not branched and carries the flowers above the foliage. [2] [7]
The stem has 2 or 3 keeled, oblong-lanceolate, reddish purple, membranous spathes or bracts (leaves of the flower bud). [9] [10] They are 4 cm (2 in) long and 1.6–2 cm wide. [3] [7] [10]
The stems hold 2 terminal (top of stem) flowers, [12] [13] [16] blooming in late spring, [17] between April and May, [5] [11] or June (in Russia). [4] The flowers are held on pedicels (stalks) that are 0.5–2 cm long. [2] [3] [7]
The flowers are 5–6 cm (2–2 in) in diameter, [6] [7] come in shades of yellow, [15] [16] [17] from bright yellow, [2] [10] [18] to clear yellow, [7] [13] to dark yellow. [5] [12]
It has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or tepals), known as the 'standards'. [19] The falls are obovate, [3] [4] [7] or ovate, [9] with purple or brown veins, [12] [13] [14] leading to the haft (the section closest to the stem), [2] and have a central yellow [5] [12] [14] or golden beard. [7] [13] They are 4 cm long and 2 cm wide. [3] [7] The upright standards are oblanceolate and 3–4.5 cm long and 1–1.2 cm wide. [3] [7] They are narrower and shorter than the falls. [9]
It has a 1–1.5 cm long perianth tube, [2] [3] [7] which is equal in length to the green, spindle-shaped [7] ovary. [3] [4] The ovary also has 6 purple stripes. [2] The plant also has 1.8–2.2 cm (1–1 in) long stamens, [3] [7] and bright yellow style branches that are flat and 2.5 cm long. [3] [7]
After the iris has flowered, between June and August, [3] [4] [7] it produces an oval or ovoid seed capsule, [3] on a 1–1.2 cm long stalk. [4] [7] Inside are dark brown, ellipsoid or oval seeds, which are 5 mm long and 3 mm wide. [3] [4] [7] They are wrinkled and have a white aril (appendage). [3] [4] [7]
Genetics
In a 1986 study, the chromosomes of 3 iris species in China, Iris mandshurica , Iris uniflora and Iris bloudowii, were counted. Iris bloudowii had a count of 2n=26. [20]
In 2005, a study was carried out on Iris bloudowii. [21]
In 2012, a genetic study was carried out on Iris laevigata and it is from several closely related iris species, including Iris ensata , Iris setosa , Iris halophila , Iris scariosa , Iris potaninii , Iris tenuifolia , Iris bloudowii, and Iris sanguinea . [22]
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. [19] It has been counted several times, 2n=22 (Marc Simonet, 1934), 2n=22 (Randolph, 1947), 2n=26 (Simonet, 1952) and 2n=26 (Doronkin, 1984). [2]
It is commonly published as 2n=22, 26, [12] [14] or 2n = 26. [5] [20]
Cultivation
It is hardy to between USDA Zone 4 and Zone 9. [18]
It is very cold hardy but prefers dry winter conditions. [2]
It prefers to be grown in well-drained, light sandy soils. [2] [6] It can grow in gravelly soils. [16]
It can tolerate mildly acidic or mildly alkaline soils (pH levels between 6.1 and 7.8). [18] [16]
It can tolerate positions in full sun. [2] [18]
It has average water needs during the growing season, [18] but it should be kept dry during the winter. [2] [13]
In the UK, it is best grown in a covered frame, [10] [13] but it can grown in the open in Russia. [4] It is rare in cultivation in the UK. [17]
It is grown in rock gardens. [16]
It has been grown in Russia since 1829. It was tested in botanical gardens of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Chita and Barnaul. [4] [16] [29]
Aphis newtoni Theobald can be found on Iris bloudowii, Iris latifolia , Iris spuria and Tigridia pavonia . [37]
Propagation
It can be propagated by division or by seed growing. [6] [18]
In 2003, a study was carried out on pollinating and germinating seeds of Iris bloudowii. It was concluded that if the pollination was around 12:00 in the morning. It is self-incompatibile. [38]
Hybrids and cultivars
Iris bloudowii is rarely used in hybridizing, but a cross with Iris lutescens called 'Promise' was successful. [2] It also has 2 cultivars, 'Bloudowii Rupestris' and 'Bloudowii Turkestanica'. [2]
