Iris goniocarpa is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the section Pseudoregelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from China, India, Burma (or Myanmar) and Bhutan. It has yellow green to dark green, long leaves, slender stem and, one flower between blue, lavender-blue, lilac, blue-violet or blue-purple. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris goniocarpa is very similar in form to Iris hookeriana, but differs in being more slender in growth,[1] and it also produces one flower (in May).[2]
It has short rhizomes, that grow very slowly,[3] and also has very slender secondary roots underneath the rhizome.[4]
It has yellow green,[3] [4] green,[5] or dark green leaves.[6] That are linear,[3] [4] and can grow up to between 10- long, and between 0.2 and 0.3 cm wide.[4] [7] They do not have a mid-vein,[4] and are similar in form to Liriope foliage.[6]
It has a slender stem, that can grow up to between 10- tall.[4] [8] [9]
The stem is either leafless,[4] or has 1–2 green,[7] lanceolate spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that are 2- long and between 0.5 and 0.8 cm wide.[4]
The stems hold 1 terminal (top of stem) flower,[2] [4] [8] blooming in spring,[6] or summer,[10] between April and May,[4] [5] [6] or May and June.[3]
The flowers are 2.5- in diameter,[4] [7] [8] come in shades of blue,[5] [7] from blue-violet,[3] [6] lilac,[7] [8] lavender-blue,[9] to blue-purple,[2] [3] [8] or purple.[1] [11] Very rarely, there is a white form.[1] [7] [9]
It has 2 pairs of petals, (like other irises) 3 large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or tepals), known as the 'standards'.[12] The falls are obovate to elliptic in shape,[4] with a retuse (or rounded) apex.[4] It has a deeper or a darker shade, mottling or blotching.[1] [2] [4] In the centre, they have a white beard,[4] [6] which has yellow,[4] or orange tipped hairs.[2] [7] [8] The erect,[7] standards are oblong shaped, with a retuse apex.[4] 1.8- long and 0.5 cm wide.[4] [7]
It has a 1.5–2 cm long perianth tube, 1.5 cm long stamens, yellow anthers, 1–1.5 cm long ovary and 1.8 cm long style branches.[4]
After the iris has flowered, between June and August, it produces an ellipsoid seed capsule, that is 3.2- long and 1.2–1.8 cm in diameter. It has a short beak-like apex.[4]
In 2009, a karyotype analysis was carried out on 10 irises found in China, it found the chromosome counts.[13]
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[12] It has a chromosome count: 2n=26.[3] [13]
It is written as 锐果鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as rui guo yuan wei in Pidgin.[4] [14]
It has the common name of angular-fruit iris in China.
It is known as ko tha o pa and dkar po cig thub in Tibet.[15]
The Latin specific epithet goniocarpa refers to the Greek word 'goniocarpa' with angular fruits [16] Also used by Eucalyptus goniocarpa, Hippophae goniocarpa and Psychotria goniocarpa.
A specimen was found in China, in 1873 by Mr. N.M. Przewalski and then given to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh herbarium collection.[17]
It was first published and described by Baker in Gardeners' Chronicle (Gard. Chron.) Vol.6 page 710 in 1876.[4] [18]
It was later published in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society Vol.42 Issue1 on page 79 in October 1916.[8]
An albino form of the iris, was found by Farrer in Western China, although there is a great deal of variation in the species.[2]
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, and then updated on 2 December 2004.
Iris goniocarpa is an accepted name by the RHS and it was last listed in the RHS Plant Finder in 2011.[19]
Iris goniocarpa is native to temperate and tropical Asia.[3] [11]
It is found within China,[3] [9] [17] in many Provinces of China, (including Guangxi (Gansu), Hubei, Qinghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang (also referred to as Tibet,[2] [9] [15])and Yunnan,[20]).[4] In Sichuan, it is found on 'Haizi Shan', part of the Daxue Mountains.[10] It is also found within tropical Asia, in India (including Sikkim,[1] [2] [7] and Nepal,[3] [7] [9]), Bhutan,[3] and Myanmar (also known as Burma).[4]
It is found on the slopes of the Himalayan mountains.[3] [8] [9]
It grows on alpine grasslands and meadows,[3] [4] [10] and in open forests of mountain valleys,[7] on granite soils.[10]
They can be found at an altitude of 2700to above sea level.[3] [4] [7]
It is not hardy to in the UK, but can be grown in an alpine house or bulb frame.[1] It is hardy in Europe, but needs shelter from winter wetness.[3]
It can be grown in well-drained soils.[1] [3] It is tolerant of different pH levels.[11]
It prefers positions in sun.[1] [6] [11]
It needs moisture during the spring but not at winter times. It also needs a dry summer period.[3]
It is thought to be best planted in September and October, to get blooms for the next year.[2]
It can be propagated by division or by seed growing. Original herbarium specimens were grown from seed.[2]
Iris goniocarpa has the following varieties; 'Felina', 'Goniocarpa Alpina', 'Goniocarpa Pratensis', 'Pardaline', 'Tenella'.[8]
Note, Iris goniocarpa var. grossa Y.T.Zhao is classified as a synonym of Iris cuniculiformis [21]
It is used in native Tibetan folk medicine.[15]