Iris wilsonii

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Iris wilsonii
Iris wilsonii - flower view 01.jpg
Close-up of Iris wilsonii, in China
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. Sibiricae
Species:
I. wilsonii
Binomial name
Iris wilsonii
Synonyms [1]
  • Iris wilsonii var. majorC.H.Wright
  • Limniris wilsonii(C.H.Wright) Rodion.

Iris wilsonii is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to China. It is placed in the series Sibiricae of the subgenus Limniris of the genus Iris . This rhizomatous herbaceous perennial has long and drooping grey-green leaves, hollow stems and two fragrant yellow, pale yellow or yellow/white flowers.

Contents

Description

Iris wilsonii is known to be more vigorous in growth than Iris forrestii (the other yellow flowering iris) within the sibirica series. [2]

It has short, thick rhizomes that creep across the ground to eventually create dense clumps. [3] [4] The rhizomes have the fibrous remains of the leaves from the past year.

It has grey-green leaves, [3] [5] [6] that are linear, with 3–5 veins and grass-like in form, they can grow up to between 25–60 cm (10–23.5 in) long and 5–8 mm wide. [3] The veins differentiate Iris wilsonii from Iris forrestii. The leaves can be more or less the same height as the stems but due to their drooping habit, the flowers are seen above the flowers. [3] [7]

It has a hollow, unbranched flowering stem that grows up to between 45–70 cm (17.5–27.5 in) long. [8] [4] [6] The stem has 2–3 green, lanceolate (sword-like), spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which measure 6–16 cm long and 8-10mm wide. [3] The spathes surround 2 fragrant flowers, [8] borne in mid-summer, [5] [9] or between May and July. [3] [4] [8]

The yellow, pale yellow or yellow/white flowers, [6] [10] [11] are 6–10 cm (2.5–4 in) in diameter. [3] [4] [5] 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'. The larger falls are obovate, 6-6.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, with purple-brown stripes or veins and spots on the blade (the widest part of the petal). [3] The smaller standards are held at an oblique angle (about 450). [2] [4] [5] They are oblanceolate (in form), 4.5–5 cm long and 7 mm wide. [3] The petals can have edges that are wavy. [5] [8] [9]

It has a green perianth tube of 0.5–1.2 cm long, a pedicel (flower stalk stem) of between 3–11 cm (1–4.5 in) long and large, bright yellow or dark yellow style branches measuring 4.5–6 cm long. [2] [3] [6]

It has a 3.5 cm long stamen, 1.2–1.8 cm long ovary and white anthers. [3]

Between June and August (after the iris has flowered), it produces a seed capsule, which are ellipsoid/cylindric in form and measures 3–4 cm (1+1⁄4–1+3⁄4 inches) long and 1.5–2 cm wide. [3] [6] It has 6 ribs. [3] The capsule is carried high above the dried remains of the long spathes. Inside are semi-orbicular, brown seeds. [3]

Biochemistry

As artificial floating islands (AFIs) have been used to help purify water in the restoration of the Beijing Wetlands. Several plants were studied in 2011, including soft stem bulrush ( Scirpus validus Vahl), spiked loosestrlfe ( Lythrum salicaria Linn.), yellow-flowered iris (Iris wilsonii) and dwarf cattail ( Typha minima ), to evaluate the chemical and vegetative characteristics of each type of plant.

In 2012, Lythrum salicaria, Typha angustifolia and Iris wilsonii were studied to see which plants were ideal in removing nitrogen and phosphorus in lightly polluted urban landscape water. All three plants grew well in the polluted water could help to remove some of the pollutants in polluted rivers. [12]

In 2014, Iris wilsonii was tested with Phragmites australis , Suaeda salsa , Artemisia anethifolia Weber, Salicornia europaea , and Spartina anglica , to compare rates of the removal of high concentrations of chloride in the polluted waters of Tianjin City. [13]

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. [8] It has a chromosome count of 2n=40. [9] [10] [14] discovered by Sim 1932. This places it within the sub-group of the series, called the Sino-siberians. [8]

Taxonomy

Print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine Iris wilsonii 136-8340.jpg
Print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine

Iris wilsonii is pronounced as EYE-ris WIL-son-ee-eye.

It is written as 黄花鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as 'huang hua yuan wei' in Pidgin. [3] [15]

It has the common names of 'yellow-flowered iris' (in China) and 'bäckiris' (in Sweden). [15] [16]

The Latin specific epithet wilsonii refers to the 19th century botanist and explorer, Ernest Wilson. It was found by Wilson, in Western Hupeh in China, growing in the grasslands near Fang Hsien, at about 7,000 ft. above sea-level.

It was first published and described by C.H.Wright in the Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, of the Royal Gardens, Kew in 1907. [17] It was later illustrated in Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Tab. 8340. vol.136 in 1910, with notes by Otto Stapf. [5]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 23 June April 2003. [15]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, as well as being a tentatively agreed name. [18]

Distribution and habitat

Iris wilsonii is native to temperate Asia. [15]

Range

It is found in western China, [5] [8] within the provinces of Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan. [3] [15]

Large colonies are found on the grasslands of Mount Hengduan in the 'Lamagetou Nature Reserve' in Sichuan. [19]

Habitat

It is found growing along streams, at the edge of forests and on meadows, hillsides and grasslands. At mid- to high elevations, from 2,300 to 4,300 m (7,500 to 14,100 ft) above sea level. [3] [4] [8]

Cultivation

The 'Sino-siberian' irises all generally have similar cultivation requirements.

They are not as hardy as the other group of Siberian irises. [8] They also don't like very hot conditions either. If it losses too much moisture it will wither and die. [20]

Iris wilsonii will tolerate temperatures of up to – 15 degrees C. [4] But may survive lower if protected or well mulched in winter. [8] It is hardy to USDA Zone 6–8, and Zone H2 (which means Hardy to -15 to-20oC (5 to -4oF ), in Europe. [5]

It prefers soils with a ph level of 5.5 to 7 (acidic to neutral) and more moisture tolerant. [4] [9] [11] It prefers to have moisture especially during the Autumn. [10] Although they like wet soils, but if the rhizome and roots are exposed to constant moisture (all year), it is likely to suffer from fungal infections. [20]

They also prefer soils enriched with humus or peat. [4] [11]

They are also tolerant of windy conditions, except just after being planted.

They prefer positions in full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. [11] They produce less flowers in shaded positions.

They can be mulched with peat or garden compost in spring. [7] They can also be fed in spring with a general fertiliser but it is not essential. [8]

They can be divided after flowering (in early summer) if the clumps become too big and congested, [7] or if the centre of the plant is too old to produce flowers. [21] Also propagation is best carried out by division of the rhizomes.

They then should be replanted 25 cm (10 in)s) apart and 10 cm (4 in) deep, [7] into weed free conditions. New plants can be planted in spring or autumn. [8] But the ground needs to be prepared before planting. New plants need to be well watered during the first season. New plants also take at least 2 years to become established. [8]

They can also be propagated by seed. Once the pods are dry on the plant, break them open to collect seeds. Then direct sow outdoors in fall (or Autumn), or winter sow in vented containers, in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse.

They can be used in gardens, at waterside locations beside pools or streams. [4] [9]

Hybrids and cultivars

Most of the irises within the Sibericae series, can readily hybridize with other members of the series, [6] including Iris forrestii. [9] It is often used within plant breeding to produce a yellow flowers, instead of white or blue forms (common in the sibericae series).

Known Iris wilsonii cultivars include 'Major'. Iris wilsonii crosses include 'Blue Wilson'; 'Cleeton Moon'; 'Cleeton Starburst'; 'Meta'; and 'Zeta'.

Toxicity

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.

Related Research Articles

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

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

Iris humilis is a plant species in the genus Iris. It is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Psammiris section. It is a rhizomatous perennial, with a wide distribution range from Europe to Russia to China, via Mongolia and Kazakhstan. It has sword-shaped leaves, a short stem and yellow flowers with an orange beard. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Iris cuniculiformis 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 long and thin green leaves, and 1 lilac large flowers, that have yellow or grey beards. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

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Iris narcissiflora 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 pale green, thin, sword-shaped leaves, medium-long slender stem and 1 yellow flower. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Iris psammocola 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 grass-like leaves, short stems, yellow flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

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 bicapitata is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the Gargano Peninsula, Italy. It has sickle or pointed leaves, shorter than the flowering stem. It has two flowers, which come in variable shades from yellow, white, lilac, blue and violet. They can also be bi-coloured. It is thought to have been derived from Iris pseudopumila. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

<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.

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References

  1. ↑ "Iris wilsonii C.H.Wright is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 British Iris Society (1997) A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation at Google Books
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "FOC Vol. 24 Page 300". efloras.org. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Phillips, Roger; Rix, Martyn (1991). Perennials Vol. 1. Pan Books Ltd. p. 188. ISBN   9780330327749.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification , p. 259, at Google Books
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Iris wilsonii". botanicalgarden.ubc.ca. June 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Cassidy, George E.; Linnegar, Sidney (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. ISBN   978-0-88192-089-5.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Austin, Claire (2005). Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Incorporated. ISBN   978-0881927306. OL   8176432M.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Stebbings, Geoff (1997). The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. ISBN   978-0715305393.
  10. 1 2 3 Vande, Jamie (9 March 2010). "Iris wilsonii". signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America). Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Ernest Wilson (1917) Aristocrats of the Garden , p. 239, at Google Books
  12. ↑ Chen, De Qiang; Liu, Xiao Zhong; Chen, Yi Qun; Maimai Ti, A Bu Du Aini; He, Hao (December 2012). "Removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Lightly Polluted Urban Landscape River by Aquatic Ornamental Plant". Advanced Materials Research. 610–613: 1943–1949. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.694.6105 . doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.610-613.1943. S2CID   135829660.
  13. ↑ Shang, KeChun; Liu, XianBin; Chen, XiaoYing (2014). "Screening of the salt tolerant plants for high salinity wastewater treatment by the artificial wetland". Journal of Agricultural Resources and Environment. 31 (1): 74–78. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "Iris wilsonii". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "Family: Name: Chinese Name: Author". cvh.org.cn. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  17. ↑ Iridaceae Iris wilsonii C.H.Wright. Vol. 1907. ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "Iris wilsonii". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "Locality 678". hengduan.huh.harvard.edu. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  20. 1 2 Nick Romanowski Water Garden Plants & Animals: The Complete Guide for All Australia , p. 80, at Google Books
  21. ↑ "Iris". rslandscapedesign.blogspot.co.uk. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2014.

Sources

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