Iris cathayensis

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Iris cathayensis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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.

Contents

Description

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]

Biochemistry

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]

Taxonomy

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]

Distribution and habitat

Iris cathayensis is native to temperate areas of Asia. [9]

Range

It is found in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, [3] [4] [5] and Zhejiang. [2] [9]

Habitat

It is found growing on open hillsides and grasslands, [2] and low-altitude mountain meadow slopes. [11]

Cultivation

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]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Iris speculatrix</i> Species of flowering plant

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Iris bungei 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 Mongolia, Tibet and China. It has green leaves, short stem and 2 violet, purple, lavender or blue flowers.

Iris kobayashii 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 slightly twisted leaves, short stems and 1 to 2 purple or blue and yellow flowers.

Iris loczyi 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 area of Asia, including Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Tibet and China. It has long thin grey green leaves, long stems and 1 flower in pale violet, blue violet, lavender or light blue.

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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.

<i>Iris tenuifolia</i> Species of plant

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.

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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.

<i>Iris crocea</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Iris halophila</i> Species of plant

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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.

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<i>Iris potaninii</i> Species of flowering plant

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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.

<i>Iris kashmiriana</i> Species of plant

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.

References

Citations

  1. "Iris cathayensis Migo is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "FOC Vol. 24 Page 306". efloras.org (Flora of China). Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 British Iris Society (1997) A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation , p. 197, at Google Books
  4. 1 2 3 4 Franco, Alain (4 December 2013). "(SPEC) Iris cathayensis Migo". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  6. Austin, Claire (2005). Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Incorporated. ISBN   978-0881927306. OL   8176432M.}
  7. Qin, Min-Jian; Xu, Luo-Shan; Toshihiro, Tanaka; Wang, Qiang; Xu, Guo-Jun (2000). "A preliminary study on the distribution pattern of isoflavones in rhizomes of Iris from China and its systematic significance". Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica. 38 (4). TLC: 343–349. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  8. Li, Lu; Qin, Min-Jian (26 May 2005). "Chemical Constituents of Iris cathayensis Migo". Journal of China Pharmaceutical University. 36 (2). China Pharmaceutical University. ISSN   1000-5048 . Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Iris cathayensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  10. "Sect. Limniris Tausch". frps.eflora.cn. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  11. 1 2 "China Iris". zhiwutong.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  12. "Iridaceae Iris cathayensis Migo". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  13. 1 2 Cassidy, George E.; Linnegar, Sidney (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. p. 139. ISBN   0-88192-089-4.

Other sources