Iris henryi

Last updated

Iris henryi
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. Chinenses
Species:
I. henryi
Binomial name
Iris henryi
Synonyms [1]
  • Iris gracilipes Pamp.
  • Limniris henryi(Baker) Rodion.

Iris henryi is a beardless rhizomatous iris. It is in the genus Iris , subgenus Limniris and in the series Chinenses of the genus, from China. It has thin green leaves, short stem and light-blue, to creamy-white or pale yellow flowers.

Contents

Description

It is a small plant which makes foliage resembling a miniature Iris graminea (in Spuria section). The buds do not show up, and the flowers suddenly open up flat at the height of leaf tips. [2]

It has a thin, long rhizome. [3]

Each tuft of six or eight slender green leaves produces a single stem. [3] [4] The leaves can reach 20–25 cm in length and around 3 mm in width. They are visibly ribbed (3 raised ribs). [5]

The stem reaches up to 8 cm (4–6 inches) in height, with a single, two-flowered (bud) spathe. [3] [4] The spathe valves are entirely green when the flower is expanded, and though they are an inch or more in length, yet the pedicel (stem of the flower) is even longer, so that the ovary is exposed above the spathes. [3] The perianth tube is very short at 4 mm long. [5]

The flower buds are yellow, but the flowers blooming in April, range from light-blue, [4] to creamy-white or pale yellow. [5] They are about 3 cm in diameter, and have a small yellow patch in the centre of the falls, which deepens to green on the haft, the outside of falls are yellow, shading to green in the lower half (the haft near the stem). [5]

The two flowers (on the double spathe) open together for about 4 days, the first flower lasting for about 10 days in good conditions. [5]

Capsules and seeds have not been seen or described. They are very difficult to cultivate into producing seed. [5]

Taxonomy

It is known as chang bing yuan wei in Pidgin in China, which is translated into English as 'long-pedicel iris'. [6]

It was first published by Baker in Handbook of the Irideae in August–November 1892. [7]

It was later published by Liu Yin in Chinese Magazine of Botany 3(2):591 in 1936. It was also published as Iris gracilipes by Renato Pampanini (Pamp). in Nuov. Gion. Bot. Ital. in 1915 (now classed as a synonym of Iris henryi), [1] Then in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society 42: 1, 78 in October 1916. [5]

It was named after an Irish plantsman and sinologist Augustine Henry. [8]

Distribution and habitat

Iris henryi is native to China. [4] [6]

Range

In China, it is found within the Chinese provinces, of Anhui, Gansu, Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan. [6]

It is also found in the thick grasses on the hillsides of Kiai Chow,[ clarification needed ] [5] and near the middle Yangtze near Yichang. [9]

Cultivation

It is best cultivated in a greenhouse, but it is susceptible to mould if too dry or wet in winter, and it is also prone to desiccation during the spring or summer. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

Iris milesii is a plant species in the genus Iris, subgenus Limniris and in the section Lophiris. It is a rhizomatous, beardless perennial plant, native to the Himalayas, India and China. It has pinkish-violet, or pinkish purple, or pinkish-lavender or pinkish lilac flowers, with a fringed yellow or orange crest. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

<i>Iris grant-duffii</i> Species of flowering plant

Iris grant-duffii is a species in the genus Iris. It is also in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Syriacae. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq, which has brown bristles/spines on the rhizome, long thin greyish green leaves, short stem carrying a single scented flower in shades of yellow.

Iris forrestii is a species of flowering plant in the genus Iris, also the subgenus Limniris and in the series Sibiricae. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from China and Burma. It has linear grassy-like leaves, long thin stem and fragrant yellow or lemon-yellow flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Iris koreana, also known as dwarf woodland Korean iris, is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Chinenses of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial from Korea.

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

Iris minutoaurea is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Chinenses of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial of eastern Asia, native to China and Korea. It has been naturalized in Japan. It has long grassy-like leaves, short stem and bright yellow or pale yellow flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

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 wattii</i> Species of flowering plant

Iris wattii is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Limniris and the section Lophiris. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant. It is native to China, Burma and India, it has lavender or light blue flowers. It is also known as 'Bamboo Iris'. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Iris falcifolia is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Hexapogon. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It is a small plant, with sickle-shaped greyish-green leaves, lilac-violet flowers and darker veining, and a white or yellow beard. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in dry, temperate regions.

Iris bloudowii 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 Russia, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China, with sickle-shaped leaves, slender stem and 2 bright or pale yellow flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

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

Iris hoogiana is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Regelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the grassy mountainsides of Turkestan. It has long green leaves, which are slightly purple at the base, and a long slender flowering stem. The flowers are blue, ranging from sky-blue to lavender blue and blue purple. It has orange or yellow beards. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

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

Iris hookeriana 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 the Himalayan mountains of India and Pakistan. It has long pale green or yellow green leaves, long slender stem and fragrant blue, purple or lilac flowers, that are mottled with a darker colour. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

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

Iris kemaonensis, the Kumaon iris, 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 Tibetan China, Bhutan, India, Kashmir and Nepal. It has light green or yellowish green leaves, that extend after flowering time. It has a short stem, 1–2 fragrant flowers that are purple, lilac, lilac-purple or pale purple. They also have darker coloured blotches or spots. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It is often known as Iris kumaonensis, due to a publishing error.

Iris sikkimensis 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 Sikkim. It has pale green or light green thin leaves, slender stem, 2 or 3 lilac or purple flowers, with a white beard with orange tips. It is thought to be a hybrid of Iris hookeriana and Iris kumaonensis.

Iris cypriana is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Cyprus. It has narrow, glaucous and evergreen leaves, tall slender stem, with 2–3 branches, and 1–3 large flowers in lavender, lilac, red-lilac, to dark purple shades. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It is listed in some sources as a synonym of Iris germanica.

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

Iris scariosa is a plant species in the genus Iris; it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial from the mountainsides of Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. It has sword-like, or sickle shaped, blue green or grey-green leaves, a short flowering stem, 3 or 4 membranous or semi-transparent flower bud leaves, 2 violet, reddish violet, lilac, blue-purple, or blue flowers in late spring, with yellow or white beards. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It was merged with another similar iris in the region, and Iris glaucescens became a synonym of Iris scariosa, before being divided into two separate species again. Although some sources still call it the main species, despite a slight colour difference.

Iris griffithii is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Afghanistan. It has short, sickle-shaped leaves, short green stem and purple flowers with white beards. Several specimens exist within herbaria around Europe, but it is rarely cultivated.

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

Iris imbricata is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the Caucasus mountains, within Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It has broad, sword-like, yellow green or light green leaves, slender stem with branches, inflated and overlapping green spathes, and 2–5 yellow, pale yellow or greenish yellow flowers.

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

Iris junonia is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Cilicia, within the Taurus Mountains. It has glaucous short leaves, tall stems with several branches, numerous flowers in various colours from blue-purple, lavender, pale blue, cream, white and yellow, with brown veining and white tipped orange beards. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. Its status is still unclear, if it is a synonym of Iris germanica or a separate species.

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

Iris mesopotamica, the Mesopotamian iris, is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the middle East, within the countries of Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Israel. It has linear, grey-green or green broad leaves, tall stem with 2–3 branches, holding up to 9 scented flowers, in shades of violet, purple, lavender blue and light blue, with a yellow and white or orange and white beard. It is listed as a synonym of Iris germanica in some sources. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, including being planted in graveyards and cemeteries but may also be used for celebrations and decoration.

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

Iris gatesii is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the mountains of Turkey and Iraq. It has long, narrow, grey-green or glaucous leaves. The strong, sturdy stem supports a single large flower in spring, between April and June. The large flowers are very variable in colouring, ranging from a pale greenish, grey, white, or creamy-yellow background colour, which is then covered with many purplish-brown, purple, or nearly black, spots, dots, short broken lines, or veining. They have a brownish purple or purple beard, over a dark signal patch. It can be cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, if it does not get too wet during summer.

References

  1. 1 2 "Iris henryi Baker". theplantlist.org. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 Taggart, Peter. "Iris henryi". signa.org. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dillistone, G. "Dykes on Irises" (PDF). beardlessiris.org. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Beardless Irises". pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "(SPEC) Iris henryi Baker". wiki.irises.org. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "Iris henryi". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Iridaceae Iris henryi Baker". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  8. ↑ Morley, Brian D. "Augustine Henry: his botanical activities in China, 1882–1890". botanicgardens.ie. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Dykes, William R. (1924). A Handbook of Garden Irises. ISBN   978-1176025158.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.