Iris kirkwoodiae

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Iris kirkwoodiae
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. kirkwoodiae
Binomial name
Iris kirkwoodiae
Synonyms [1]
  • Iris kirkwoodiae subsp. kirkwoodiae
  • Iris kirkwoodiae var. macrotepala Chaudhary, G.Kirkw. & C.Weymouth

Iris kirkwoodiae (or Iris kirkwoodii) 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.

Contents

Description

The forms of Iris kirkwoodiae are between Iris gatesii and the also dark-veined Iris sofarana . [2] [3] It is also very similar in form to Iris susiana . [4]

It has a stout and compact rhizome, [2] which is stoloniferous and between 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) long, underneath the rhizome are long secondary roots, which help feed the plant mineral salts from the soil. [5]

It has 6-7 leaves, which grow up 30 cm (12 in) tall and between 0.5–2 cm (0.20–0.79 in) wide, [2] [5] They are falcate, [2] or sickle shaped. [5]

It is tall, [6] growing up to between 30–75 cm (12–30 in) tall. [7] [3] [8]

It blooms between April and May, [2] [9] [5] with large, [5] [3] [10] sphere-like flowers. [6] It was determined that the plants found in Maras, Turkey seem to have the largest flowered forms. [2] It has a faint pleasant scent. [5]

The flowers are between 13–18 cm (5.1–7.1 in) in diameter, [2] [5] and come in shades of beige, [5] white or pale greenish ground, [3] [8] [7] which is covered with violet, [3] or dark purple veins and spots. [2] [9]

Like other irises, 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'. [11] :17 The standards are generally paler than the falls. [2] The standards are 7–10.5 cm (2.8–4.1 in) long and are 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) wide. The deflexed falls, [3] have a deep purple round or obovate signal patch, [2] [8] and in the centre of the fall, is a sparse, [2] purple or brownish-purple beard. [7] [8] Occasionally forms have a red-brown or yellow beard. [2]

It has style arms which have erect or reflexed lobes. [2]

After it has flowered, it produces a seed capsule that is about 9 cm (3.5 in) long. [2]

Genetics

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. [11] :18 It was counted as 2n=20, [5] [7] by Avishai and Zohary in 1977. [6]

Taxonomy

It is known as Maras kurtkulağı in Turkish. [9] [12] and it is written in Hebrew as איריס קירקווד . [13]

Specimens of the iris were collected by E. K. Balls and also by S. Albury, M. Cheese, and J. Watson in 1966, from Bishmishly, Northern Syria and Amanus Mountains, Turkey. [8] It was then originally described and published as Iris kirkwoodii in 'Botaniska Notiser', Vol.125 Issue 4 on page 499 in 1972. [1] [8] [14]

The specific epithet kirkwoodii, refers to Mrs Grace Kirkwood. A botanist along with Shaukat A. Chaudhary and Carolyne Weymouth first published and described other 'Section Oncocyclus' irises Iris assadiana and Iris swensoniana . With the standard form of G.Kirkw. [15] It was later published in Davis, P.H. (ed.) (1984). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands 8: 381–450. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh. [8]

The spelling of the iris was corrected in accordance with Melbourne ICN Art. 60.12 and Rec. 60C.1(b) in 2011 to Iris kirkwoodiae, because Grace Kirkwood was a woman but much of the older published literature has the old spelling as I. Kirkwoodii. [8] [14] [16] [17]

Iris kirkwoodiae was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated 21 May 2013. [17] Although Iris kirkwoodiiis listed in the RHS Plant Finder 2017 and it is a tentatively accepted name. [18]

In February 2016, several 'Section Oncocyclus' irises Iris paradoxa , Iris iberica, Iris barnumiae , I. kirkwoodiae, Iris sofarana were resolved as monophyletic. [6]

It has 2 synonyms that are often called subspecies of Iris kirkwoodiae; Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. calcarea, [6] [19] [20] (or Iris calcerea, [21] ) and Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. macrotepala. [5] Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. macrotepala is sometimes referred to as a variety, such as Iris kirkwoodiae var. macrotepala. Having longer leaves and slightly different flowers, [2] [7] it was also published in 1976 in 'Bot. Not.' Vol.128: [8]

Distribution and habitat

Iris kirkwoodii is native to temperate areas of western Asia. [17] [14]

Range

It is found in Syria, [6] [9] [14] (near Aleppo, [10] [3] Bismishly and el Bara, [2] ) Turkey, [17] [5] [22] (within the districts of Maras, [9] [23] Gazintep and Hatay, [2] [9] ) and Lebanon. [14]

Habitat

It grows on the limestone rocks, [3] [10] and stones, [2] and between cultivated fields. [3] It is normally found at 750–1,700 m (2,460–5,580 ft) above sea level. [2]

Conservation

The plant is considered 'rare, [5] as its natural habitat on Mount Ahır is threatened with destruction, due to the construction of houses and associated effects, road construction and the alteration to vineyards and gardens. [9]

Cultivation

It likes to grow in rocky soils, which stay dry in summer. [5]

Hybrids and cultivars

Iris kirkwoodii has several known crosses, such as: 'Code Of Silence', 'Delicate Embroidery', 'Diamond Tiara', [24] 'Engraved Invitation' (I. calcarea x I. yebrudii v. edgecombii), [25] 'Known Only To Him', 'Prim And Proper'. [8]

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. [26]

Related Research Articles

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

Iris acutiloba is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the mountains of the Caucasus and found in Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Dagestan in the North Caucasus, and Iran. It is a dwarf species, with narrow, falcate or curved leaves, it has one flower in spring or early summer, that comes in shades from cream, creamy white, whitish, pale brown, light grey, to pale violet. It is heavily veined or streaked and pointed, with 2 dark spots and brown, purple, dark purple, or black short beard. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. There are two subspecies, Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata and Iris acutiloba subsp. longitepala.

Iris assadiana is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the deserts of Syria. It has small rhizomes, grey-green strongly curved leaves, slender stems, scented flowers in April, in shades of maroon, purple, deep purple or black. They have dark veining and it also has yellow/white beard tipped with purple. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

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

Iris atropurpurea, the coastal iris is a 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 Middle East. It has glaucous (blue-green), linear, falcate (sickle-shaped) leaves. Between February and March, it has between 1 and 2 flowers, in dark shades from red-brown, burgundy, dark purple to blackish purple. They have a darker signal patch and yellow beard tipped with purple. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, due to it needing very dry conditions.

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

Iris barnumiae 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 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. It has pale glaucous green and narrow leaves, that are slightly sickle-shaped and fade soon after blooming. It has, in mid- to late spring, fragrant flowers in shades of purple, from red-purple, mulberry to purplish-violet, with a yellow tipped with purple beard. It was renamed as I. barnumiae in after a plant naming conference in 2011, but is still sometimes named as I. barnumae in some sources. It has one accepted subspecies Iris barnumiae subsp. demawendica and two forms; Iris barnumiae f. protonyma (Stapf) B.Mathew & Wendelbo and Iris barnumiae f. urmiensis (Hoog) B.Mathew & Wendelbo, which has yellow flowers. Sometimes I. barnumiae f. barnumiae is used to describe the basic form. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, due to its needing very dry and warm summer conditions.

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

Iris bostrensis 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 border between Syria and Jordan. It has greenish-grey leaves, 1–2 flowers in Spring,, which have a yellowish, greenish or pale brown ground, which is then covered in many brown-black, brown-purple, or brown, spots, streaks or veining. It has a bright yellow beard, slightly tipped in purple. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, due to its environmental conditions of its natural habitat.

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.

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 mariae</i> Species of plant

Iris mariae 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 deserts of Israel and Egypt. It is fairly tall, with long and slender glaucous leaves, and in late spring, lilac-purple to pinkish or violet flowers with deeper veining and blackish-violet signal and dark purple beard.

<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 petrana</i> Species of plant

Iris petrana, commonly known as the Petra iris, is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Oncocyclus section. It has spring blooming flowers that come in shades from burgundy, dark brown to dark violet and purple. They have yellow or dark 'beards' and flower over sword-like grey-green leaves. It is normally found in the desert sands between the countries of Jordan and Israel.

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

Iris susiana, commonly known as the mourning iris, 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. The survival of the species is seriously threatened by excessive picking.

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

Iris sari is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in section Oncocyclus. It is from the rocky steppes and hills of Turkey. It has curved or straight leaves, cream, greenish or yellowish flowers which are variable and veined with crimson, purple-brown, reddish brown, reddish-purple or black. It has a dark maroon, rich crimson or brown signal patch and gold or yellow beard.

<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.

<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 swensoniana is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Oncocyclus section. It grows in the deserts of Syria. It has blue-green curved leaves, tall stems holding purple-black or purple blooms with a yellow beard and maroon-black signal patch.

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

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Other sources

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