Iris planifolia
| Iris planifolia | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Iris subg. Scorpiris |
| Section: | Iris sect. Scorpiris |
| Species: | I. planifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Iris planifolia | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Iris planifolia is a species of flowering plant in the subgenus Scorpiris of the genus Iris, family Iridaceae. This bulbous perennial from Southern Europe and North Africa has long, shiny green leaves, a short stem, and large scented flowers in various shades of blue.
Description[edit]
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Iris planifolia has a large brown ovoid bulb (around 2 in (51 mm) in diameter),[2] with fleshy cylindrical white roots.[3][4]
The shiny green leaves that grow up to 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) long and 1–3 cm wide[4] can conceal the short stem[2] at flowering time. The leaves are lanceolate, beginning narrow at soil level and growing up to a point.[3] It is regarded as having one of the largest flowers in the subgenus Scorpiris.[5]
It can begin to flower in December,[6] in January or February.[7] In the wild it has been known to flower as late as Autumn.[8] The flowers have a light scent,[6] which can be described as spicy.[7]
It is a short, stout plant with up to three large flowers per stem,[3] which are generally 6–7 cm in diameter, with a perianth tube of 8–18 cm long. The falls are 5–8 cm long and the standards are 2 cm long.[4] The plant can reach a maximum height of 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) tall.[8]
The plant has flowers in various shades of blue,[7] from bluish violet,[4] bright sky blue,[9] and lilac blue,[6] 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'.[6] The falls have a dark blue veining and a yellow crest on the ridge.[4][8][9] It does not have a beard.[3] Occasionally, white flowered forms can be found in the wild.[7]
The plant has tiny football shaped pollen with small spikes.[10]
The capsule is oblong, sessile, like that of Colchicum on the surface of the soil in the centre of the leaves. It has brown seeds which can be as large as a pea.[3]
Taxonomy[edit]
The specific epithet of 'planifolia' is derived from the Greek word meaning 'with flat leaves'.[11]
It was first published by T.Durand and Schinz in 'Conspectus Floræ Africæ' No.5. in 1894.[12] But under the name Iris alata.[13]
Fiori and Paoletti in 'Flora Analytica d'Italia', recognized this species as the genus Iris from Millers original entry of Xiphium planifolium. For many years this was known under the synonym. Iris alata by Poir and recorded in a 1939 checklist.[3] Further research took then plant origin back to 1894.
Iris planifolia is now the accepted name by the RHS,[14] and it was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003 and the updated on 3 December 2004.[15] Note; Iris planifolia has over 20 different synonyms. See list in the infobox on the right. Iris alata (also commonly known as 'Scorpion Iris') is the most common synonym.[16]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
It is native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa.[7][15] This the only species in the Juno subgenus that can be found growing in Europe.[6]
Range[edit]
It is found in Crete, Greece, Sicily, Spain, Portugal,[6] Sardinia,[5] (within North Africa) in Algeria, Libya, Tunisia,[15] and Morocco.[8]
White forms of the iris can be found in Andalucia.[17]
Habitat[edit]
Iris planifolia is found on rocky hillsides,[5] which are generally wet in the winter and dry in the summer.
Cultivation[edit]
It is hardy to USDA Zone 3.[4]
The bulb is a short lived plant. It is better grown in the UK, in a bulb frame.[6] In pots or preferably in the ground.[5]
It can also be cultivated in pots.[2] But the pots need to be a minimum of 30 cm tall (or 1 ft), to allow maximum root space.[5]
It needs good ventilation to prevent disease,[3] but can be prone to virus infections.[7] Causing a loss of growth, and causes pale or streaky foliage. Infected plants should be destroyed to stop contamination of other plants.[8]
For good growth next year, it prefers a good warm dry ripening period in summer,[7] in sharply drained soil.[9]
It can be propagated naturally as it creates clumps of bulbs, that can be divided, by being very carefully teased apart in late summer. Care mus be taken not to damage the fleshy roots.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ "Iris planifolia (Mill.) T.Durand & Schinz". theplantlist.org. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ a b c Richard Lynch The Book of the Iris, p. 185-186, at Google Books
- ^ a b c d e f g "(SPEC) Iris planifolia (Miller) Fiori & Paoletti". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). 20 April 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f 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
- ^ a b c d e "Juno irises J-R". www.pacificbulbsociety.org. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g Austin, Claire (2005). Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0881927306. OL 8176432M.}
- ^ a b c d e f g h Rowland, Mark (2010). "Iris planifolia". lathyrus-seed.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Iris planifolia". encyclopaedia.alpinegardensociety.net. 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ a b c "Iris planifolia". rareplants.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ Tillie, Nico; Hall, Tony; İkinci, Nursel; Lliedo, M; Clarkson, James; Seisums, Arnis; Saito, Takeshi; Harley, Madeline; Chase, Mark (17 October 2011). "Molecular phylogenetics of the juno irises, Iris subgenus Scorpiris (Iridaceae), based on six plastid markers". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 167: 281–300. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2011.01176.x.
- ^ Stearn, William (1972). A Gardenerer's Dictionary of Plant Names. London: Cassell. p. 257. ISBN 0304937215.
- ^ "Iris". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). p. 143. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "Plant Name Details". biodiversitylibrary.org. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "Iris planifolia". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ a b c "Iris planifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ Harry Thomas Round the Year in the Garden, p. 243, at Google Books
- ^ "Topic: White Iris planifolia". andaluciabirdsociety.org. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
External links[edit]
Media related to Iris planifolia at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Iris planifolia at Wikispecies