Iris subdichotoma

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Iris subdichotoma
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. Lophiris
Species:
I. subdichotoma
Binomial name
Iris subdichotoma
Synonyms [1]

Iris subdichotoma f. alba.G.Shen & Y.T.Zhao

Iris subdichotoma is a plant species in the genus Iris , it is also in the subgenus Limniris and in the section Lophiris (crested irises). 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.

Contents

Description

It has short rhizome with a few branches. [2] [3] Below is thick roots. [4] On top of the rhizomes are the brown, fibrous remains of last seasons leaves, surrounding the new leaves. [2] [3] [4]

It has grey-green, sword-shaped and slightly curved leaves. [2] [3] [4] They grow up to 22–40 cm (9–16 in) long and 1–2 cm wide. [2] [3] [4] They do not have any mid-veins. [2] [3] [4] The leaves are generally short than the flower stems. [5]

It has flowering stems that can grow up to 25–40 cm (10–16 in) long. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] The stems have between two and five branches. [2] [3] [4]

The plant is very similar in form to Iris dichotoma but only smaller. [5]

The stems have 3–5 green, spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which have membranous margins. [2] [3] [4] They are 2.5–3.5 cm (1–1 in) long and 7–8 mm wide. [2] [3] [4] The bracts are similar in size to Iris dichotoma. [5]

The stems (and branches) hold between two and four flowers, between June and August. [2] [3] [4] But normally in June. [2] [3]

Leading from the spathes are stiff, pedicels (or peduncles), that are between 3 and 4 cm (1 and 2 in) long. [2] [3] [4]

The flowers are 4.5–5 cm (2–2 in) in diameter, [2] [3] [4] and come in shades of pale blue, [4] blue-purple, [2] [3] purple, [5] [6] or violet. [4] [5] [6] Later, a white flowering form was found and then was published and named as Iris subdichotoma f. alba Y. G. Shen, in 'Acta Bot. Yunnan' Vol.26 Issue5 page492 in 2004). [4] Although this is now classified as a synonym of Iris subdichotoma. [1]

It has three pairs of petals, three large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and three inner, smaller petals (or tepals, known as the 'standards'. [7] The falls are oblanceolate, and 4 cm long and 7 cm (3 in) long. [2] [3] [4] The falls have a central yellow crest. [6] The standards are narrow and oblanceolate, and 3 cm long and 4 mm wide. [2] [3] [4]

It has a 2 cm long perianth tube, 2.2 cm long stamens, 1.5 long and 0.5 cm wide, fusiform (spindle-shaped) ovary and 3 cm long style branches. [2] [3] [4] The styles branches have narrowly triangular lobes. [2] [3] [4] It also has filaments that are longer than the anthers. [2] [3]

After the iris has flowered, it produces a cylindric seed capsule, [4] between July and September, that is 5–6 cm (2–2 in) long and 1 cm wide. [2] [3] [4] It has six longitudinal ribs. [2] [3] [4] The capsule when ripe, splits a third of the way down, releasing the seeds. [2] [3] [4] [5] The seeds are 7.5–8.5 mm wide, maroon-brown and have a small wings. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Genetics

In 2006, 13 species of Iris, including Iris subdichotoma, Iris delavayi and Iris cuniculiformis were studied for a cytological analysis of the chromosome counts. [8]

In 2007, the chromosomes of Iris dichotoma, Iris domestica (Belamcanda chinensis) and Iris subdichotoma were also studied. [9]

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. [7] Iris subdichotoma has a count of 2n=42. [8]

Taxonomy

It has the common name of 'Zhongdian iris'. [3] [10] [11] [12] Note; 'Zhongdian' is an older name for Shangri-La City. It is written as 中甸鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as zhong dian yuan wei in Pidgin Chinese. [4] [11]

The Latin specific epithet subdichotoma refers to Iris dichotoma (Also known as the Vesper Iris). 'Dichotoma' means forked in pairs or having 2 branches. [13] It is very similar in form to Iris dichotoma but smaller. [5]

It was first published and described by Yu Tang Zhao in 'Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica' (Acta Phytotax. Sin. published in Beijing) Vol.18 Issue 1 on page 57 in 1980. [2] [11] [14]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003 and then updated on 29 September 2008. [11] Iris subdichotoma is an accepted name by the RHS. [15]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to temperate regions of Asia. [11]

Range

It has been found in Chinese province of Yunnan, [6] [2] [12] [16] in China. [11] [14]

It has been found on Haba Snow Mountain, [5] and beside the Yangtze River. [2]

Habitat

It grows in grasslands, on open hillsides or on banks or slopes beside rivers. [2] [3] [4]

It grows at altitudes of between 1,800 and 2,700 m (5,900 and 8,900 ft) above sea level. [3] [4] [12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Iris subdichotoma Y.T.Zhao is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "Iris subdichotoma". flph.org (Flora of Pan Himalayas). Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 "Zhongdian Iris". tl.swewe.net. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "FOC Vol. 24 Page 307". efloras.org (Flora of China). Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Franco, Alain (29 November 2013). "(SPEC) Iris subdichotoma Zhao". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 Austin, Claire (2005). Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Incorporated. ISBN   978-0881927306. OL   8176432M.
  8. 1 2 Shen, Yun-Guang; Wang, Zhong-Lang; Guan, Kai-Yun (2007). "Karyotypes of thirteen species of Iris L. from China". Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica. 45 (5): 601–618. doi:10.1360/aps06064. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Wang, Hong; Shen, Xiao-hui; Guo, Ying (March 2007). "Karyotype Analysis and Taxonomic Status of Iris dichotoma". Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University (Agricultural Science). Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Zhongdian iris". scires.datatang.com. Retrieved 19 March 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Iris subdichotoma". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 "Zhongdian Iris". zhiwutong.com. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  13. ↑ Smith, A.W.; Stearn, William T. (1972). A Gardener's Dictionary of Plant Names (Revised ed.). Cassell and Company (published 1963). p. 117. ISBN   0304937215.
  14. 1 2 "Iridaceae Iris subdichotoma Y.T.Zhao". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Search the RHS Horticultural Database". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "2nd Yunnan joint research report". bgtym.org. Retrieved 19 March 2015.

Sources

Wikispecies-logo.svg Data related to Iris subdichotoma at Wikispecies

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