Iris cathayensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Iridaceae |
Genus: | Iris |
Subgenus: | Iris subg. Limniris |
Section: | Iris sect. Limniris |
Series: | Iris ser. Tenuifoliae |
Species: | I. cathayensis |
Binomial name | |
Iris cathayensis | |
Synonyms [1] | |
None known |
Iris cathayensis is a beardless iris in the genus Iris , in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Tenuifoliae of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial from China. It has grey-green leaves, short stems and violet flowers.
Iris cathayensis has a brown, tough, knobbly rhizome that has dark red leaf bases (from last season's leaves). [2] [3]
It has linear, greyish-green, 15–25 cm (6–10 in) long and 3–4 mm wide at blooming time. It later extends up to 45 cm (18 in) long and 6 mm wide. [2] [3] The tips of the leaves arch over. [3]
It has very short flowering stems, 15–25 cm (6–10 in) long. [4] [5] Sometimes, the stems do not emerge from below ground. [2] [3]
It has between 3–4 green, lanceolate, between 12–8 cm (5–3 in) long and 2–1.2 cm (1–0 in) wide, large spathes (leaves of the flower bud). [2] [3] It has membranous margins, visible mid-vein and pointed end. [2] [3]
The flowers are 6–7.5 cm (2–3 in) in diameter, and come in shades of violet, [2] [4] [5] in April. [2]
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'. [6] The falls are narrowly oblanceolate, 4–5.5 cm (2–2 in) long and 5 mm wide. The standards are also narrowly oblanceolate, 4–5 cm (2–2 in) long and 5 mm wide. [2]
It has a 1.5–2 cm long, filiform (thread-like) pedicel, 7–9 cm long perianth tube, 2.8–3.5 cm long stamens, blue anthers and 1.3–1.5 long ovary. It also has 3.5–4 cm (1–2 in) long and 3 mm wide, linear style branches, the same colour as the petals. [2]
After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule (not described) between June and August. [2]
In 2000, a chemical analysis of 22 species of iris from China was carried out. According to the distribution pattern of isoflavones in the species, they can be separated into 2 groups. One group contains isoflavonoid aglycons and the other has glycosides and isoflavonoid aglycons. Iris cathayensis Migo and Iris mandshurica Pall. are considered intermediate groups between subgen. Limniris and Iris subg. Iris. [7]
In 2005, a study was carried out to find out the chemical composition of Iris cathayensis. Using chromatography and spectroscopic methods, as well as others. [8]
It is written as 华夏鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as hua xia yuan wei in China. [2] [9]
It has the common name of 'China iris', [10] [11] or Cathay iris. [9]
The Latin specific epithet cathayensis refers to Cathay , the anglicized version of "Catai" and an alternative name for China.
It was published and described by Hisao Migo in the Journal of the Shanghai Science Institute Sect. 3 Vol. 4 on page 140 in 1939. [12]
It was later published in Flora of Jiangsu, First Vol. 395, Fig. 712 in 1977. [4]
Iris cathayensis is native to temperate areas of Asia. [9]
It is found in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, [3] [4] [5] and Zhejiang. [2] [9]
It is found growing on open hillsides and grasslands, [2] and low-altitude mountain meadow slopes. [11]
Iris cathayensis is not common in cultivation in the UK. [13]
It prefers to grow in sandy soils. It needs to be kept dry during winter, needing the protection of bulb frames, it only needs water during the growing season. [13]
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Iris qinghainica is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Tenuifoliae of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from China. It has grey green leaves, a very short stem and 1–2 blue or violet flowers.
Iris songarica is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Tenuifoliae of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from Central Asia, located in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It has long strap-like leaves, a long stem and 2–3 flowers in shades of violet, dark blue, to lavender blue.
Iris tenuifolia is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Tenuifoliae of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from a wide region over central Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, ; Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia and in China. It has long greyish-green leaves, short stem and pale violet, lilac, pale blue, or purple flowers.
Iris ventricosa is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Tenuifoliae of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from Asia and the Russian Federation, to Mongolia and China. It has grey-green leaves, short flowers stems and 1–2 pale violet or pale blue flowers.
Iris farreri is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Tenuifoliae of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from China. It has grey-green leaves, long stem and 1 or 2 violet, lilac or light blue flowers. It has undergone several changes of name and series, before being left as Iris farreri.
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Iris halophila is a species in the genus Iris. It is also in the subgenus Limniris and in series Spuriae. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, with yellow, white or violet flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It comes from a wide range from eastern Europe to China in Asia. It was known for a long while as a subspecies of Iris spuria, before being treated as a separate species in its own right.
Iris latistyla is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Limniris and in the section 'Lophiris section, although it was thought to be listed within Iris subg. Nepalensis in some sources. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Tibet and China, with violet or blue-purple flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris subdichotoma is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Limniris and in the section Lophiris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Tibet and China, with pale blue, blue-purple, purple, violet or white flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
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Iris mandshurica is a species in the genus Iris; it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Psammiris section. It is a rhizomatous perennial, it is found in Russia, China, and Korea. It has green sword-like leaves, smooth green stem and yellow flowers, with yellow-purple veining and a yellow beard. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris potaninii is a species in the genus Iris; it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Psammiris section. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Siberia in Russia, Mongolia and China. It is a dwarf plant, having either subterranean or very small stems, long thin leaves and yellow, or dark violet to purplish blue flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris ivanovae is a plant species in the genus Iris and part of the subgenus Iris and in the section Pseudoregelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from eastern Russia, China, and Mongolia.
Iris leptophylla is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Pseudoregelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from China. It has thin, long grey-green leaves, long slender stem and 2 fragrant purple, blue-purple, violet or lavender pink flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris kashmiriana is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Kashmir, India. It has straight, sword-shaped, glaucous leaves, tall, thick stem with up 2 short branches, which hold 2–3 flowers, which can be white, cream or pale blue, lilac, lavender or blue-purple. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, although in Kashmir, it is also planted on graves.