Iris goniocarpa

Iris goniocarpa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Irideae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris
Section: Pseudoregelia
Species: Iris goniocarpa
Binomial name
Iris goniocarpa
Baker
Synonyms
  • Iris goniocarpa var. tenella Y.T.Zhao
  • Iris gracilis Maxim. [Illegitimate]

Iris goniocarpa is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Pseudoregelia section. 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.

Description

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 10–25 cm (4–10 in) 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 10–30 cm (4–12 in) 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 2–4 cm (1–2 in) 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 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) 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] 1.8–2.2 cm (1–1 in) 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 3.2–4 cm (1–2 in) long and 1.2-1.8 cm in diameter. It has a short beak-like apex.[4]

Biochemistry

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]

Taxonomy

It is written as 锐果鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as rui guo yuan wei in Pidgin.[4][14][15]

It has the common name of angular-fruit iris in China.[14]

It is known as ko tha o pa and dkar po cig thub in Tibet.[16]

The Latin specific epithet goniocarpa refers to the Greek word 'goniocarpa' with angular fruits [17] 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.[18]

It was first published and described by Baker in Gardeners' Chronicle (Gard. Chron.) Vol.6 page 710 in 1876.[4][14][19]

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.[14]

Iris goniocarpa is an accepted name by the RHS and it was last listed in the RHS Plant Finder in 2011.[20]

Distribution and habitat

Iris goniocarpa is native to temperate and tropical Asia.[3][11][14]

Range

It is found within China,[3][9][18] in many Provinces of China, (including Guangxi (Gansu), Hubei, Qinghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang (also referred to as Tibet,[2][9][16])and Yunnan,[21]).[4][14] 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][14]

It is found on the slopes of the Himalayan mountains.[3][8][9]

Habitat

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 2,700 to 5,500 m (8,900 to 18,000 ft) above sea level.[3][4][7]

Cultivation

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]

Propagation

It can be propagated by division or by seed growing. Original herbarium specimens were grown from seed.[2]

Hybrids and Cultivars

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 [22]

Uses

It is used in native Tibetan folk medicine.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Cassidy, George E.; Linnegar, Sidney (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. p. 126. ISBN 0-88192-089-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Dykes, William (2009). "Handbook of Garden Irises" (PDF). beardlessiris.org (The Group for Beardless Irises). Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Chapter I (Part 7) Pseudoregelia". irisbotanique.com. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 "FOC Vol. 24 Page 311". efloras (Flora of China). Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Iris goniocarpa". degentiaan.com. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Iris goniocarpa". hessenhof.nl. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Taggart, Peter (7 March 2010). "Iris goniocarpa". signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America). Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Franco, Alain (5 December 2013). "(SPEC) Iris goniocarpa Baker". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Basak Gardner & Chris Gardner Flora of the Silk Road: The Complete Illustrated Guide, p. 319, at Google Books
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Iris goniocarpa". lumen.fr. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  12. 1 2 Austin, Claire (2005). Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press. ISBN 0881927309.
  13. 1 2 Yu, Xiao-Fang; Zhang, Hai-Qing; Yuan, Ming; Zhou, Yong-Hong (2009). "Karyotype studies on ten Iris species (Iridaceae) from Sichuan, China" (PDF). Caryologia. 62 (3): 253–260. doi:10.1080/00087114.2004.10589690. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Taxon: Iris goniocarpa Baker". ars-grin.gov (Germplasm Resources Information Network). Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  15. "Iris goniocarpa Baker". tropicos.org (Tropicos). Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 Dr Pasang Yonten Arya (compiler) Dictionary of Tibetan Materia Medica (1998), p. 7, at Google Books
  17. D. Gledhill The Names of Plants, p. 192, at Google Books
  18. 1 2 "Filed as Iris goniocarpa Baker [family IRIDACEAE]". plants.jstor.org. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  19. "Gard. Chron., n.s., 6: 710 (1876).". apps.kew.org. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  20. "Iris goniocarpa". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  21. "Wildlife of Yunnan Part Four". robs-journeys.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  22. "Iris cuniculiformis Noltie & K.Y.Guan is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2015.

Other sources

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