Iris susiana

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Iris susiana
Iris sofarana.jpg
Iris susiana
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris subg. Iris
Section: Iris sect. Oncocyclus
Species:
I. susiana
Binomial name
Iris susiana
Synonyms [1]
  • Iris grandifloraSalisb.
  • Iris kasruwanaDinsm.
  • Iris lividaTratt.
  • Iris punctataMoench
  • Iris sofaranaFoster
  • Iris sofarana f. franjiehChaudhary, G.Kirkw. & C.Weymouth
  • Iris sofarana subsp. kasruwana(Dinsm.) Chaudhary, G.Kirkw. & C.Weymouth
  • Iris sofarana f. kasruwana(Dinsm.) Mouterde
  • Iris sofarana var. magnificaSiehe
  • Oncocyclus susianus(L.) K.Koch

Iris susiana, commonly known as the mourning iris, [2] is a species of perennial plant in the family Iridaceae. The mourning iris is native to the Middle East. It grows in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, although it is believed to be extinct in the wild. It is popular as a cut flower as the flowers can easily span 12 centimeters (5 inches). The survival of the species is seriously threatened by excessive picking. [3]

Contents

Description

Iris susiana has a short, compact, brown rhizome and long secondary roots that grow beneath the soil. [4] Stems can grow to 30–38 cm (12–15 in) tall. [5] [6] The leaves can reach 25 cm long and 5-12 mm wide. The leaves are glaucous and slightly curved, and the spathes slightly dilate at the base. [2] It has one flower per stem, which blooms in May. [4] Like other irises, the flowers have two pairs of petals: three large sepals (outer petals, known as the 'falls') and three inner, smaller petals (or tepals, known as the 'standards'). [7] External tepals are reflexed, ovate, approximately 7 cm long and 4 cm wide, and strongly spotted with purple on a bluish-white base. [6] [8] Internal tepals are erect, with a color similar to or lighter than its external tepals. Veins are white or purplish. Branches of the plant's style (part of the stigma) are 2-3 cm long. It has short, rounded lobes and a denticulate margin.

Genetics

As with most irises, Iris susiana is diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. Its diploid cells have 20 chromosomes. Genetic variations give rise to phenotypic differences which can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. [7] [4] [6] [8]

Taxonomy

Iris susiana, Carl Linnaeus. The Botanical Magazine, Plate 91 (Volume 3, 1790).png
Iris susiana, Carl Linnaeus.

Iris susiana has the common name of mourning iris. [2] Other common names include 'chalcedonian iris', [5] [9] [10] 'great-flowered iris', 'great spotted iris', and 'mourning widow'. [11] [12]

Iris susiana has been cultivated since 7000 BCE. [5] It was taken from Turkey and introduced to gardens in Vienna in 1573. [13] The botanist Carl Linnaeus discovered it in Persia, and then published and described it in his book Species Plantarum in 1753. [1] [14] [15] The name Iris susiana is a reference to these Persian roots: in classical literature, the Persian civilization of Elam was also known as Susiana, a name derived from its capital Susa. [16]

One of the synonyms of the iris, I. sofarana, owes its name to the summer resort Sofar, where it was collected by Hartmann in 1899. It was then described by Sir Michael Foster, [17] in Gardeners' Chronicle ser. 3, vol.26: on page 389. [18]

It was verified as Iris susiana by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003. [15]

Distribution and habitat

Iris susiana is prevalent in Lebanon, Turkey and Syria. [8] [6] [15] It grows in mountainous terrain, typically on eastern slopes in rocky areas. [8] [6]

Cultivation

Irises can generally be propagated by division. [2] [19] Iris susiana can be grown in sunny nooks within a rock garden, on sheltered banks or in borders. It needs light, warmth and well-drained soil. [2]

Toxicity

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant (including the rhizome and leaves) are poisonous. If ingested, it can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction in some individuals. [20]

Culture

The Taj Mahal in India has images of Iris susiana carved from stone. [5]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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Iris basaltica 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 basalt deserts and hillsides of eastern Syria. It has many falcate long leaves, and long stem. Between March and April, it has white or pale green flowers covered in thick purple or black veining and dots or spots. It also has a purple or maroon beard, tipped with yellow. It is rare cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, due to its environmental conditions of its natural habitat.

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

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Iris camillae 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 Azerbaijan. It has narrow, falcate (sickle-shaped) leaves, medium-sized stem and large flowers, where the flower colour is very variable, ranging from violet, purple, pale blue, and also yellow, and occasionally bi-colour forms are found. It has a yellow beard. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, due to its environmental conditions of its natural habitat.

Iris damascena is a species of plant in the genus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial endemic to Mount Qasioun in Syria. It has thin, sickle-shaped, grey-green leaves and medium-sized stem that holds 1-2 large flowers between March and April. Inflorescences are white or grey-white with purple-brown spotting or veining and a small blackish or dark purple signal patch with a sparse, purple or dark purple beard. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, as it needs very dry conditions during the summer. The species is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.

<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.

Iris grossheimii is a plant species in the genus Iris, subgenus Iris and section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the Caucasus mountains of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. It has sickle shaped leaves, which are as long as the short stem, which carries one flower in spring. It is beige, pink or brown covered in dark lines that are, purple-brown or brown. It has a large blackish brown signal patch and brown or black beard. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, as it needs very dry conditions during the summer.

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

Iris hermona, the Golan iris, is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris, and in the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the pastures and meadows of the Golan Heights in Israel and Syria. It has linear, upright leaves, tall slender stem holding a bi-coloured flower, having a pale lilac, cream-yellow, light tan, or white background, which is then covered in purple brown, or purple, or purple-pink veining, spots or speckling. It has a round purple-brown or almost black signal patch, and a sparse purple brown or almost black beard. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, as it needs very dry conditions during the summer.

Iris heylandiana 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 marshlands or fields of Iraq. It has short, linear or sickle shaped grey-green leaves, slender stem, a single flower in spring, which has a dingy-white, whitish, or pale background, which is covered in many spots or dark veining, in black-purple, brown-purple, or brown violet, or brown shades. It has a dark brown or burgundy brown signal patch and white tinged with yellow or orange white sparse beard. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, as it needs very dry conditions during the summer.

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

Iris lortetii is a species in the genus Iris. It has straight grey-green leaves, a 30–50 cm tall stem, and large showy flowers in late spring or mid-summer that come in shades of pink, from white, lilac, pale lavender and grey-purple. It is veined and dotted pink or maroon. It has a signal patch that is deep maroon and a sparse and brown, purple-brown or reddish beard.

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

Iris paradoxa is a species of flowering plant native to western Asia. It has large upright petals and smaller lower petals, which is unique amongst most iris forms. They come in various shades from white, lavender, mauve, medium purple, violet, dark purple to black. It has a black or purplish black beard on the lower petals. It comes from the region of Transcaucasia, and is found in the countries of Iran,, Turkey, Armenia and in Azerbaijan.

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

Iris sprengeri is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Oncocyclus section. It is from the mountain slopes of Turkey. It has large flowers which are white, silver-white or cream, with purple-red or reddish-brown veining and a golden yellow beard and a dark purple or deep purple-brown signal patch.

Iris kirkwoodiae is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Syria and Turkey. It has white or pale greenish flowers, heavily covered with dark purple veins or dots, deep purple round signal and a beard of long brown/purple hairs. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

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

Iris meda is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Oncocyclus section. It is from the desert mountains and hills of Media and has long grey-green leaves with cream, pale yellow or yellow flowers, which have purple or dark brown patches and yellow beards.

Iris nectarifera is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Oncocyclus section. It is found in Iraq, Syria and southeastern Turkey. It has yellow or cream flowers which have purple veining, a purple signal patch and a yellow beard. It has a known variety from Turkey called I. nectarifera var. mardinensis.

Iris westii is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Oncocyclus section. It is from the mountain sides of Lebanon. It has curved grey-green leaves, a stem carrying one flower in shades of lilac, white or beige with spotting or veins in a darker shade or violet. The lower petals have deep velvety chocolate or deep violet-black signal patch and a purple beard. It rare and threatened due to habitat destruction, from military actions, overgrazing by goats and other factors.

Iris yebrudii is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Oncocyclus section. It is from the hillsides of Syria. It has curved leaves, often hiding a single stem and the spring flower is pale yellow, covered in fine spots, veining and has a dark purple signal patch and purple beard.

References

  1. 1 2 "Iris susiana L." www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 William Robinson Hardy Flowers , p. 153, at Google Books
  3. ↑ Mustapha Nehmeh, Wild Flowers Of Lebanon, National Council For Scientific Research,1978,pages 155,156.
  4. 1 2 3 "chapitre I (partie 5) Les Oncocyclus II". dictionaire des iridacée (in French). irisbotanique.over-blog.com. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Stebbings, Geoff (1997). The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises . Newton Abbot: David and Charles. pp.  7. ISBN   0715305395.
  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 3 4 Kramb, D. (2 October 2004). "Iris susiana". www.signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America). Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  9. ↑ Philip McMillan Browse Heligan: Fruit, Flowers and Herbs (2005) , p. 176, at Google Books
  10. ↑ Country Life (magazine) Country Life Illustrated, Volume 9, 1 June 1901 , p. 686, at Google Books
  11. ↑ Margery Fish An all the Year Garden (1966) , p. 49, at Google Books
  12. ↑ Christopher Brickell RHS Encyclopedia Of Plants and Flowers (5th Ed. 2010) , p. 613, at Google Books
  13. ↑ Wilson, Carol A.; Padiernos, Justin; Sapir, Yuval (February 2016). "The royal irises (Iris subg. Iris sect. Oncocyclus): Plastid and low-copy nuclear data contribute to an understanding of their phylogenetic relationships". Taxon. 65 (1): 35–46. doi:10.12705/651.3 . Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Iris susiana". www.ipni.org. International Plant Names Index . Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 "Iris susiana L. GRIN-Global". npgsweb.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  16. ↑ Rev. John Brown A Dictionary of the Holy Bible (1769) , p. 621, at Google Books
  17. ↑ "Iris Sofarana, endemic Lebanese flower – LebanonUntravelled.com" . Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "Iris sofarana | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "How to divide iris rhizomes". gardenersworld.com. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  20. ↑ David G Spoerke and Susan C. Smolinske Toxicity of Houseplants , p. 236, at Google Books

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