Iris auranitica explained

Iris auranitica is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial in the Jabal al-Druze region in Syria, where it grows at about 1600 m. It has thin and long, greyish-green, semi-evergreen leaves. In May, it has fragranced flowers (between light yellow to mustard), with a dark signal patch and yellow beard with purple tips. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, as it needs very dry conditions during the summer.

Description

It is a geophyte,[1] which has small rhizomes, that are on the surface of the soil, so that they can feel the heat of the sun. Under the rhizome, they have extremely long secondary roots.[2]

It has greyish-green, semi-evergreen leaves, which are thin and can grow up to between 10- long. The rhizomes and leaves form small clumps of plants.[2]

It has a slender stem or peduncle, that can grow up to 50cm (20inches) tall.[3] [4] [5]

The stems hold terminal (top of stem) flowers, blooming in mid-season,[3] or spring,[6] in May.[2] In cultivation, they flower as late as June. The fragranced flowers,[2] come in shades of yellow,[4] [5] from light yellow to mustard,[2] or bronze,[3] [5] and gold.[7] In the wild, there is a great deal of variety in flower colour.[7] 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'.[8] The falls are orbiculate (or circular) or pendulum shaped, with[3] a maroon or reddish,[5] signal patch,[7] [3] and red,[3] or brown veining.[2] They also have brown spots.[4] [5] [6] In the middle of the falls, is a dense,[6] row of short hairs called the 'beard', which is dark yellow,[2] or bright yellow with purple red tips.[3] [5] It has similar coloured standards that do not have dots or veins.[3]

After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule, which has not yet been described.

Biochemistry

A study was carried out in 2013, to find out what oils are contained in the rhizomes of various irises in Syria, including Iris germanica, Iris barnumiae, Iris bostrensis and in I. auranitica. It found myristic acid, lauric acid, decanoic acid (capric acid), palmitic acid and methyl ester.

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[8] It was counted in 1952, by Marc Simonet and then by Awishai & Zohary in 1980,[3] as 2n = 20.[2] [5]

Taxonomy

The Latin specific epithet auranitica refers to resembling an orange or orange-coloured.[9] [10] Also 'Auranitis' is an alternative to Hauran, Syria, where the iris is found.[7]

It is sometimes misspelt as Iris aurantica.

It was first discovered by John Edward Dinsmore, in Tell Quleib (a hill near As-Suwayda,[11]) in Syria,[7] then he published and described the iris in 'Flora Syria' edition 2 (Palest. & Sinai) on page 601 in 1933.[12] [13]

Then again in Nat. Sc. Ser. No. 1; Publ. Am. Univ. Beirut, No.3, 1934,[13] and in Gardening Illustrated 56 on page 389 on 30 June 1934.[3]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated on 1 December 2004.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to temperate Asia.

Range

It is found in southern Syria,[4] [14] including Jab. Kulavb,[3] [5] and El Hauran.[15]

It is listed as endemic plant of Syria, along with 200 other vascular plants including Iris assadiana (another Oncoyclus section iris), Teucrium coniortodes, Allium pseudophanerantherum, Allium birkinshawii, Ajuga chasmophila, Echium pabotii, Astragalus qatmensis, Astragalus roessleri, Centaurea trachonitica, Salsola zenobiae, Senecio delbesianus, Thymus alfredae, Vicia kalakhensis, Onobrychis gaillardotii, and Alyssum antilibanoticum.[16]

Habitat

It grows on volcanic lava,[4] and dry rocky soils.[2] [15]

Conservation

It is a very rare iris,[14] under threat of extinction.[2]

Cultivation

It is hardy to European Zone H4,[6] meaning hardy to -5C-10C.[17]

It is difficult to cultivate unless it has a hot and dry summer conditions.[2]

Propagation

Irises can generally be propagated by division,[18] or by seed growing. Irises generally require a period of cold, then a period of warmth and heat, also they need some moisture. Some seeds need stratification, (the cold treatment), which can be carried out indoors or outdoors. Seedlings are generally potted on (or transplanted) when they have 3 leaves.[19]

Hybrids and cultivars

Ii has various cultivars including 'Unicolor' and 'Wilkiana'.[3]

Toxicity

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also, handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[20]

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Abdullah . Ghazal . Landscape Ecological, Phytosociological and Geobotanical Study of Eu-Mediterranean in West of Syria . 2008 . opus.uni-hohenheim.de (University of Hohenhiem) . 9 July 2016.
  2. Web site: Chapter I (Part 5) I Oncocyclus . irisbotanique.over-blog.com . fr . 3 March 2016.
  3. Web site: John . Black . (SPEC) Iris auranitica Dinsm . 19 January 2016 . wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). 24 April 2016.
  4. Web site: Rafael Diez . Dominguez . Iris auranitica . 27 July 2007 . signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America) . 24 April 2016.
  5. Web site: Iris summary . 14 April 2014 . pacificbulbsociety.org . 23 November 2014.
  6. James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors)
  7. Web site: Peter . Werckmeister . Bulletin of the American Iris Society, no. 169: 29–30 (1963), The Iris Auranitica of Syria (Translated by George Hacklaender) . 1963 . bulbnrose.x10.mx . 24 April 2016.
  8. Book: Austin, Claire . Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia . 2005 . Timber Press . 978-0881927306 .
  9. David Gledhill
  10. Book: Stearn, William . 1973 . Revised . 1963 . A Gardenerer's Dictionary of Plant Names . London . Cassell . 50 . 978-0304937219 .
  11. Web site: Tell Abu Quleib . 4 June 2016.
  12. Web site: Iris auranitica Dinsm. is an accepted name . 23 March 2012 . theplantlist.org (The Plant List) . 24 April 2016.
  13. Web site: Iridaceae Iris auranitica Dinsm . ipni.org (International Plant Names Index) . 24 April 2016.
  14. Kerry Scott Walter, Harriet J. Gillett, World Conservation Monitoring Centre
  15. Web site: MarHaba from Damascus . 21 April 2006 . rsabg.org . 16 March 2016.
  16. Web site: Syria . lntreasures.com . 29 March 2016.
  17. Web site: Plant Hardiness . theseedsite.co . 3 August 2015.
  18. Web site: How to divide iris rhizomes . gardenersworld.com . 12 October 2015.
  19. Web site: Tom . Waters . Growing Irises from Seed . December 2010 . telp.com . 28 April 2016.
  20. David G Spoerke and Susan C. Smolinske