Iris tenuifolia | |
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Flower head of Iris tenuifolia in Kazakhstan | |
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. tenuifolia |
Binomial name | |
Iris tenuifolia | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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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, (the former Soviet Union republics of); 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 tenuifolia is very similar in form to the Mediterranean Iris unguicularis . As they both have very small stems and the seed capsules are often hidden within the leaves of the plant. [2]
It has a dark brown, thin, short, knobbly, tough, wood-like rhizomes. [3] [4] [5] Underneath, it has a network of fibrous roots. [6] On top of the rhizome, at the base of the leaves, are the brown or red-brown, fibrous remains of the previous seasons leaves. Which act as sheaths, for the new leaves. [3] [5] [7] The sheaths can be up to 6–20 cm (2–8 in) long. [6] [5]
It can be either a single plant or can grow into thick clumps of plants. [5] [8]
It has greyish-green, linear, twisted, leaves, that can grow between 20–60 cm (8–24 in) long and 1.5–2 mm wide. [7] [9] [10] They do not have a mid-vein but parallel veins, [3] [4] [6] and are acuminate (ending in a point). [5] They continue to grow after blooming, and can end up as a mass of twisted leaves. [11]
The leaves are longer than the flowering stems. [5]
It has a very short flowering stem or scape, 10–30 cm (4–12 in) long. [12] [13] [14] Although, sometimes the stems do not emerge above ground. [3]
It has 2 to 4, pointed (acuminate), membranous, green, between 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 8–10 mm wide, spathes (leaves of the flower bud). [3] [6] [7]
The stems hold normally 1–3, terminal (top of stem) flowers, [7] [9] [15] blooming in spring, between April and May, [3] [6] [13] or late as early June (in Russia). [10]
The scented flowers, [5] are 4–7 cm (2–3 in) in diameter, [7] and come in shades of pale violet, [3] [14] lilac, [5] [15] [14] pale blue, [9] [15] [13] or purple. [4] [10] [13] 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'. [16] The falls are spatulate (spoon shaped) or obovate-lanceolate, [4] [6] 4.5–6 cm (2–2 in) long and 1.5 cm (1 in) wide. [3] [6] [7] They have a thin central yellow crest or mid-vein, dark veins (on a pale colour), and a band of papillose (or small hairs). [3] [5] [14] The narrower, oblanceolate, erect standards are 5 cm (2 in) long and 5–9 mm wide. [3] [4] [6]
It has a long, slender thread-like, perianth tube, 4.5–8 cm (2–3 in) long. [3] [5] [7]
It has 3 single coloured, style branches, 4 cm (2 in) long and 4–5 mm wide. [3] They attenuate (narrow slightly) and at the tips, are toothed. [4] [6] [5]
It has a slender 3–4 mm long pedicel, [5] 3 cm (1 in) long Stamens and a cylindric 7–12 cm (3–5 in) long and 2 mm wide, ovary. [3]
After the iris has flowered, between late July and early August (in Russia), [10] or between August and September (in China). It produces an ovoid or sub-globose, 3.2–4.5 cm (1–2 in) long and 1.2–1.8 cm (0–1 in) wide, seed capsule. It has short beak-like appendage on the top. [3] [4] [6]
The seeds are oval (or turbinate – like a top) shaped, wrinkled and black-brown to brown. [6] [5] [10]
Often, the seed capsule is hidden by the long leaves. [2]
In February 1997, a study was published in which 6 new flavanones, isolated from the rhizomes of Iris tenuifolia, using high resolution mass spectrometry. [17]
In 2005, it was noted that the rhizomes of Iris tenuifolia are the source of the largest number of new 2’-O-substituted simple flavanones within a single species. [18]
Between 2007 and 2011, a study was carried out on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Iris tenuifolia and Iris halophila . Using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The irises have been used in various tradition herbal remedy's, such as traditional Mongolian herb medicine and Uighur herb medicine. [19]
In 2008, several chemical compounds were extracted from Iris tenuifolia. These included; 'izalpinin', 'alpinone', 'arborinone', 'irilin B', 'irisone A', 'irisone B', 'betavulgarin', 'beta-sitosterol' '5,7-dihydroxy-2', '6-dimethoxy-isoflavone' , 2',5-dihdroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy flavanone, 'irisoid A' and 'ethyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside'. Also 2 new compounds were found, tenuifodione and tenuifone. All found using spectroscopic methods. [20]
In 2011, 2 flavans and a flavanone, were extracted from the rhizomes of Iris tenuifolia and then tested against stem cells. [21]
In 2012, a genetic study was carried out on Iris laevigata and several of its closely related iris species, including Iris ensata , Iris setosa , Iris halophila , Iris scariosa , Iris potaninii , Iris tenuifolia, Iris bloudowii , and Iris sanguinea . [22]
In 2014, the characteristics of phenotypic plasticity and ecological adaptation of Iris tenuifolia from various habitats in Xinjiang, China, were studied. [23]
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. [16] It has a chromosome count: 2n=14. [3] [24]
It is written as 细叶鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as xi ye yuan wei in Pinyin Chinese. [3] [4] [25]
The Latin specific epithet tenuifolia comes from the almagamtion of two Latin words tenuis meaning 'fine or thin' and folia mean leaf. [26]
It has the common names of Egeria Iris. [27] [28] Note; 'Egeria' means water buffaloes or cows pulling (in China). [4] Another common name is narrow leafed iris, [29] or fine leaved iris, [30] or slender-leaf iris, [25] or silk leaves Iris. [4] [27]
It was published and described by Peter Simon Pallas in Reise Russ. Reich. Vol.3 on page 714 in 1776. [31]
It was introduced to Russia in 1812, and was noted as growing in the front garden of Mr. A. Razumovsky near Moscow. [30]
It was later published with an illustration in The Gardeners' Chronicle 3rd. Series Vol.59 on page 196 on 8 April 1916. [32]
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 2 October 2014, [25] then as of January 2015, it is listed as a tentatively accepted name by the RHS. [33]
Iris tenuifolia is native to a wide region, of various temperate areas of Central Asia. [25] [33] Which extends from the Volga through Turkestan into Mongolia, [12] and China.
It is found in the western Asian countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan. [3] [6] [25]
Also in the middle Asian countries of (the former Soviet Union republics of); Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. [3] [14] [25] Also found in regions of Russia, including Agin-Buryat Okrug, Bashkortostan, Chelyabinsk, Chita and Siberia. [13] [14] [25] It is listed with Iris bloudowii , Iris humilis , Iris ruthenica , Iris sibirica and Iris tigridia as being found in the Altai-Sayan region (where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together). [34]
It is found within central China, [9] [10] [14] in the provinces of Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, (Shandong [3] ), Shanxi, Xinjiang and Xizang. [3] [4] [25]
One reference mentions Turkey, [6] another reference mentions Iran. [11] Since most others do not mention these countries, they are not regarded as valid.
It is grown in semi-desert, desert or mild mountainous areas. [15]
On sandy steppes, on dunes, beside sandy riverine grasslands or river banks, on dry coastal sand regions, on gravelly desert-like slopes and in the crevices of rocks. [8] [10] [15]
It is also grown at altitudes of 1000 to 4200m above sea level. [6] [8] [13]
In north east China, it is found growing on poor soils on open tree-less plains. [11]
In 2003, it was listed as an endemic vascular species of the temperate steppe region of Inner Mongolia, China, along with Stipa grandis , Artemisia frigida , Festuca ovina , Thymus serpyllum , Caragana microphylla , Koeleria cristata and others. [35]
It is included in the IUCN 'Red Data Book' of the Chita Oblast of 2002, listed as 'rare'. It is now protected in Dauria and Khopyor reserves. [30]
Iris tenuifolia is rare in cultivation in the UK. [9] [36] It is rare in cultivation in the US as well. [11]
They are more grown by specialised collectors or for scientific and research purposes. [6] [11]
It was sometimes used as annual plant and only planted during the summer (in the UK, in 1800s). [36]
It is hardy, if sited in a northern continental climate. Similar to Nebraska, North Dakota or South Dakota. [11] It is hardy in parts of Russia. It has been grown in Moscow, St Petersburg and Chita. [10]
It prefers sandy or sandy loam soils, similar to the desert habitat. [6] [9] [15] It prefers alkaline soils. [8]
They prefer positions in full sun. [8]
It needs to be kept dry during winter, needing the protection of bulb frames (in the UK). It only needs water during the growing period. [9] The plant loses its foliage during the winter, as it is removed by the forces of wind, snow and other bad weather conditions. It then re-grows leaves, in April and May. [11]
It has high drought and heat tolerance (desert-like conditions). [8] [11] [15]
The seed of Iris tenuifolia is rarely used by western horticulturists, as the plants rarely flower. [11] William Rickatson Dykes notes that it made no satisfactory growth and never flowered. [2]
In other flowering regions, the seed can be harvested in autumn, washed, fresh or dried. [6]
Due to its high drought and heat resistance, it could be useful in breeding purposes. [10] [30]
In 2001, a study was carried to monitor the effects of the iris, within a herbal remedy for kidney protection was carried out. [29]
The Iris genus has been used as a traditional folk medicine, used to treat a variety of diseases, such as cancer, inflammation, bacterial and viral infections. [37] It was found that compounds isolated from Iris germanica have anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-malarial parasite and anti-TB and other positive effects. [38]
The roots, seeds and flowers of the iris, are used as ingredients in herbal medicines. They have been used as tocolysis (also called anti-contraction medications or labor represents) and to treat fetal metrorrhagia. [6]
On 24 December 2009, a patent was granted, for the extraction of Iris tenuifolia. Due to its chemical compounds being used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. [37]