Iris danfordiae, the dwarf iris or Danford iris, is a bulbous perennial plant in the genus Iris, it is classified in the subgenus Hermodactyloides and section Reticulatae. It is from Turkey in Asia. It has 2 gray-green or bluish green, thick leaves, short slender stem holding a scented flower, in shades of yellow. They are spotted olive-green or green and have a deep yellow or orange crest.
Iris danfordiae has a narrowly ovoid,[1] bulb,[2] with whitish netted coats.[3]
It has 2 leaves (per bulb),[3] [4] 30- tall.[5] They are linear,[6] four-angled in cross section,[4] [7] and gray-green,[6] or bluish green.[3] The leaves sometimes appear together with the flowers,[6] and sometimes after the flowers.[4]
It has a slender stem, that can grow up to between 7- tall.[4] [5] [6] They hold 1 flower each.[3] [6]
It is one of the first reticulata irises to bloom,[8] [9] even blooming through the snow.[10] In early spring,[2] [5] between January,[5] and March.[7]
It has fragrant (scented of honey,[8]) flowers,[11] in shades of yellow.[12] From bright yellow,[8] [13] [14] deep yellow,[6] to orange.[7] The flowers are 3- in diameter.[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'.[15] The falls are spathulate (spoon shaped),[6] and spotted olive-green,[6] [7] or green.[4] [9] [14] In the centre of the falls is a deep yellow or orange crest.[12] [8] The standards are vert short,[6] [12] in some cases just bristles.[4] [14]
Later after flowering, it produces a seed capsule.[6]
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[15] It was counted in 1959 by Randolph & Mitra as 2n=27, then in 1997 by Johnson & Brandham as 2n=18 and 27.[1] [12]
It is pronounced as (Iris) EYE-ris (aphylla) dan-FORD-ee-ay (danfordiae).[13] It is commonly known as dwarf iris,[16] buttercup Iris,[13] or Danford's iris.[13] [7] [17]
This species was introduced from Cilicia, Turkey in 1876, by Mrs C. G. Danford (an English plant hunter of the Asia minor regions).[14] [18]
It was first published and described as Xiphion danfordiae Baker and described by John Gilbert Baker in J. Bot. Vol.14 n page 265 in 1876.[1] It was then reclassified and published as Iris danfordiae by Pierre Edmond Boissier in 'Fl. Orient.' Vol.5 on page 124 in July 1882.[19]
Iris danfordiae is an accepted name by the RHS,[20] and it was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 23 January 1989, then updated on 2 December 2004.
It is native to temperate Asia, mainly Asia Minor.[7]
It grows in the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey.[8] [4] [12]
It grows on exposed dry rocky and sunny slopes, at the edges of coniferous forests or woods,[12] close to the snowline.[6] [4] It is normally found at an altitude of 1000– above sea level.[6] [4]
It is cold hardy,[12] to between USDA Zones 5 - 9.[16] [7] [13] It is sometimes deemed less reliably perennial than other bulbs.[9]
It prefers to grow in neutral to alkaline soils, which are high in potassium and phosphate. It prefers sandy and well drained soils both in summer and winter.[10] It prefers positions in full sun.[6] [13]
It is suitable for a rock or gravel garden or front of border.[21]
During mild season the bulb and plant is susceptible to slug damage.[4]
It can be propagated by division or by seed growing. Seeds are best grown by collecting dry, mature seed capsules, and sowing the seeds.[13]
Division, is carried out by lifting the main bulb and splitting into many bulblets,[4] that (once replanted) can take many years to reach flowering size.[4] [22] This is best carried out when the foliage has died down.[23]
The bulbs should be planted deeply to flower reliably in later seasons.[8]
Iris danfordiae has the following cultivars: 'Atilla', 'Bornmülleri', 'Danfordiae Hort'.[1]
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.[13] [24]