Iris planifolia
Iris planifolia is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Scorpiris. It is a bulbous perennial from Europe and North Africa. It has long, shiny green leaves, short stem, large scented flowers can come in various shades of blue.
| 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] | |
| |
Description
Iris planifolia has a large brown ovoid bulb (around 2 in (51 mm) in diameter),[2] with fleshy cylindrical white roots.[3][4]
It has shiny green leaves that grow up to 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) long and 1–3 cm wide.[4] Which can conceal the short stem,[2] at flowering time. The leaves are lanceolate, and begin narrow at soil level before growing up towards a point.[3]
It is regarded as having one of the largest flowers in the sub-genus.[5]
It can begin to flower in December,[6] in January or February.[7] In the wild they have been known to flower in later, 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 which blooms 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. It has falls that are 5–8 cm long and standards that are 2 cm long.[4] The plant can reach a maximum height of 10–15 cm tall.[8]
The large flowers can come in various shades of blue,[7] from bluish violet,[4] bright sky blue[9] and lilac blue,[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 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
The specific epithet is derived from 'planifolia' from the Greek word meaning 'with flat leaves'.[10]
It was first published by T.Durand and Schinz in 'Conspectus Floræ Africæ' No.5. in 1894.[11] But under the name Iris alata.[12]
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,[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]
Distribution and habitat
It is native to temperate regions of Europe and North Africa.[7][14] This the only species in the Juno subgenus that can be found growing in Europe.[6]
Range
It is found in Crete, Greece, Sicily, Spain, Portugal,[6] Sardinia,[5] (within North Africa) in Algeria, Libya, Tunisia,[14] and Morocco.[8]
Habitat
Iris planifolia is found on rocky hillsides,[5] which are generally wet in the winter and dry in the summer.
Cultivation
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
- "Iris planifolia (Mill.) T.Durand & Schinz". theplantlist.org. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- Richard Lynch The Book of the Iris, p. 185-186, at Google Books
- "(SPEC) Iris planifolia (Miller) Fiori & Paoletti". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). 20 April 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- 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
- "Juno irises J-R". www.pacificbulbsociety.org. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- Austin, Claire (2005). Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0881927306. OL 8176432M.}
- Rowland, Mark (2010). "Iris planifolia". lathyrus-seed.com. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- "Iris planifolia". encyclopaedia.alpinegardensociety.net. 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- "Iris planifolia". rareplants.co.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- 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.
- "Iris planifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 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. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
External links
