Iris juncea explained
Iris juncea (commonly called the rush iris) is a smooth-bulbed bulbous iris species. The name is derived from 'juncea' from the Greek word meaning 'rush-like'.[1]
It was first described by Jean Louis Marie Poiret in 1871.[2] It was then illustrated in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1898.[3]
Its flowers are light yellow[4] and fragrant. Normally 2 per stem in summer. It flowers between June and July.[3]
It grows to a height of between 1 and 2 feet.[5] The 3mm wide leaves appear in the autumn and then fade before flowering.[6]
The bulb is reddish-brown in colour.[3]
It can be found in (Algeria and Tunisia) in North Africa,[7] Southern Spain and Sicily.[6]
Other varieties known include;[6]
- iris juncea var. merimieri (Lynch) Sulphur yellow flowers
- iris juncea var. numidica (Anon) lemon-yellow flowers (from Africa)[3]
- iris juncea var. pallida (Lynch) large soft yellow flowers
Notes and References
- Book: Stearn, William . 1972 . A Gardenerer's Dictionary of Plant Names . London . Cassell . 184 . 0304937215.
- Web site: Iris juncea Poir.. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. April 24, 2014.
- Richard Lynch
- 47. Kew Bulletin. 25–48. 1890. New Garden Plants.
- Book: 150. Hardy Flowers. William Robinson. Applewood Books. 2009. 978-1429014434.
- James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors)
- Web site: Jorge. Martınez. Pablo . Vargas . Modesto . Luceno . Angeles. Cuadrado. Evolution of Iris subgenus Xiphium based on chromosome numbers . 13 August 2010. www.rjb.csic.es. 1 August 2014.
