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{{italic title}}{{taxobox
|name = Iris falcifolia
|image =
|regnum = [[Plantae]]
|unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
|unranked_classis = [[Monocots]]
|ordo = [[Asparagales]]
|familia = [[Iridaceae]]
|subfamilia = [[Iridoideae]]
|tribus = [[Irideae]]
|genus = ''[[Iris (plant)|Iris]]''
|subgenus = ''[[Iris subg. Iris|Iris]]''
|sectio =''Hexapogon''
|species = '''''Iris falcifolia'''''
|binomial = ''Iris falcifolia''
|binomial_authority = [[Alexander von Bunge|Bunge]]
|synonyms = None known<ref>{{cite web |title=Iris falcifolia Bunge is an accepted name |date= 23 March 2013 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-321811 |publisher=theplantlist.org ([[The Plant List]])|accessdate=29 September 2014}}</ref>
}}
'''''Iris falcifolia''''' is a species in the genus ''[[Iris (plant)|Iris]]'', it is also in the subgenus of [[Iris subg. Iris|Iris]] and in the Hexapogon section. It is a [[rhizomatous]] [[perennial plant|perennial]], from [[Uzbekistan]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Iran]] and [[Pakistan]]. It is a small plant, with sickle-shaped greyish-green leaves (hence the name), lilac-violet flowers and darker veining, and a white or yellow beard. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in dry, [[temperateness|temperate]] regions.

==Description==
It has a thick, short, rhizome.<ref name=Fedorov>Andreĭ Aleksandrovich Fedorov (Editor){{Google books|vmW-DPOAttEC|Flora of Russia, The European Part and bordering regions, Volume 4, 2001 (Translation of Flora Evropeiskoi Chasti SSSR, 1979)|page=443}}</ref><ref name=efloras>{{cite web |title=Pakistan V. 202 |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=240010012 |publisher=efloras.org (Flora of Pakistan) |accessdate= 10 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=FloraofUSSR>{{cite web|first=V.L. | last=Komarov | year=1935 | title=Akademiya Nauk SSSR (FLORA of the U.S.S.R.) Vol. IV | publisher=archive.org | url=https://archive.org/stream/floraofussr04bota/floraofussr04bota_djvu.txt | accessdate=9 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=british>British Iris Society (1997) {{Google books|pL6uPLo7l2gC|A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation|pages=97-98}}</ref> It produces nut-like segments, one per year, that spread to create small dense tufts of plants.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/> On top of the rhizome are the fibrous remains of the previous seasons leaves.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/> Underneath are thick fleshy roots.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/>

It has greyish-green, (falcate) curved leaves, that are covered in very small hairs.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/><ref name=american>{{cite web |first=Alain |last=Franco |title=(SPEC) Iris falcifolia Bunge |date=5 December 2013 |url=http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/Spec/SpecFalcifolia |publisher=wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society) |accessdate=10 April 2015}}</ref> They can grow up to {{convert|25|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and 2–4 mm wide.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/><ref name=cassidy>{{cite book |last1=Cassidy |first1=George E.| last2=Linnegar | first2=Sidney | date=1987 |edition=Revised | title= Growing Irises |location=Bromley | publisher=Christopher Helm | page=125 | isbn=0-88192-089-4}}</ref>

It is a dwarf plant,<ref name=stebbings>{{cite book |last=Stebbings |first=Geoff |year=1997|title=The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises |url= |location=Newton Abbot |publisher=David and Charles |page=16 |isbn=0715305395 }}</ref> It has stem (or peduncle) that can grow up to between {{convert|10|-|35|cm|0|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/><ref name=american/><ref name=cassidy/><ref name=pacific>{{cite web |title=Iris summary |date=14 April 2014 |url=http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/Iris/Iris_Summary.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=pacificbulbsociety.org |accessdate=23 November 2014}}</ref>
The stem is hidden by 1-2 sheathing leaves.<ref name=british/>

The stems have 3-4 [[spathe]]s (leaves of the flower bud), that are {{convert|2.5|-|5|cm|0|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/>
They are greenish tinted purplish, partially membranous, with a hyaline (clear and translucent) margin.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/>

The stems hold short pedicels (flower stalks),<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/> and 2-5 flowers,<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/><ref name=american/><ref name=cassidy/> in spring,<ref name=stebbings/> between March and April.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/>

The flowers are {{convert|3|-|4|cm|0|abbr=on}} in diameter,<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/> come in shades of lilac-violet,<ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/><ref name=american/><ref name=stebbings/><ref name=pacific/> and purple.<ref name=cassidy/>

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'.<ref name=ClaireAustin>{{cite book |first=Claire |last=Austin |title=Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia |year=2005 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=0881927309 }}</ref>
The falls are oblong or lanceolate-obovate shaped, and are {{convert|3|-|4|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and 0.6-0.9 cm wide.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/> They have a yellow,<ref name=FloraofUSSR/> or whitish beard in the middle of the leaf.<ref name=Fedorov/><ref name=efloras/><ref name=american/><ref name=Harris>{{cite web |first=Gwenda |last=Harris |title=Classification Of Irises, Presented At Convention 2011 |date=2011 |url=http://www.nziris.org.nz/conventdocs/Classification%20of%20irises.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=nziris.org.nz |accessdate=25 April 2015}}</ref> They have darker veining.<ref name=american/><ref name=pacific/>
The standards are lanceolate, narrow, with a canaliculate (small channel) on the haft (section of the petal closest to the stem).<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/>

It has a small perianth tube, {{convert|3|cm|0|abbr=on}} cm long,<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/> 1.0 cm long filaments, 1-1.5 cm long anthers,<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/> and a globose and crenulated (notched) stigma.

It has a pale lilac,<ref name=FloraofUSSR/> and {{convert|2.7|cm|0|abbr=on}} cm long style branches, which are keeled, and have narrow lobes which are 8mm long.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/>

After the iris has flowered, it produces an oval seed capsule, which is {{convert|2.5|-|3.5|cm|0|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/>
The seeds come out of the capsule via lateral slits,<ref name=Fedorov/> they are 5mm long and pear shaped.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/>
They have a whitish, ring shaped aril (appendage), on the smaller end.<ref name=Fedorov/><ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/>

===Biochemistry===
As most irises are [[diploid]], having two sets of [[chromosomes]], this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.<ref name=ClaireAustin/>
It has a chromosome count: 2n=18,<ref name=pacific/> which was discovered by Zakharyeva in 1985.<ref name=american/>

== Taxonomy==
It is known in Pakistan as 'khakhobe'.<ref name=crc>Umberto Quattrocchi {{Google books|-37OBQAAQBAJ|CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific names, Synonyms and Etymology}}</ref><ref name=Goodman>{{cite web |first=Steven M. |last=Goodman |first2=Abdul |last2=Ghafoor |date=1992 |title=The Ethnobotany of Southern Balochistan, Pakistan, with Particular Reference to Medicinal Plants |url=https://archive.org/stream/ethnobotanyofsou31good/ethnobotanyofsou31good_djvu.txt |publisher=archive.org |page=255 |accessdate=25 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=Ratsch>Christian Rätsch {{Google books|Rs5rAwAAQBAJ|The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications|page=764}}</ref>

The Latin [[Botanical name#Binary name|specific epithet]] ''falcifolia'' refers to 'sickle shaped leaves'.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=A.W. |last2=Stearn |first2=William T. |date=1972 |edition=Revised |publication-date=1963 | title= A Gardener's Dictionary of Plant Names | publisher=Cassell and Company | page=139 | isbn=0304937215}}</ref>

It was found in 1847, in [[Baluchistan]] (Pakistan) near the [[Caspian Sea]],<ref name=american/> by [[Alexander von Bunge]].<ref name=cassidy/>

It was first published and described by Alexander von Bunge in ''Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Flora Russlands und der Steppen Central-Asiens'' (Beitr. Fl. Russl.) Vol.329 on 7 November 1852.<ref name=ipni>{{cite web|title=Iridaceae Iris falcifolia Bunge |url=http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=928051-1 |publisher=ipni.org (International Plant Names Index) |accessdate=10 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=grin>{{cite web |title=Taxon: Iris falcifolia Bunge |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?20299 |publisher=ars-grin.gov ([[Germplasm Resources Information Network]]) |accessdate=10 April 2015}}</ref>
It was also published in 'Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg Divers Savans' Vol.7 page505 in 1854.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=grin/><ref name=Stapfia>{{cite journal |last= Khassanov |first=F. O. |last2= Rakhimova |first2=N. |date=2012 |title=Taxonomic revision of the genus Iris L. (Iridaceae Juss.) for the flora of Central Asia |url=http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/STAPFIA_0097_0174-0179.pdf |journal=Stapfia |format=PDF |publisher= |volume=97 |issue= |pages=174–179 |doi= |accessdate=25 April 2015}}</ref> Later published in 1941, 'Flora Uzbek' Vol.1 page 510, in 1971 in 'Consp. Fl. As. Med.' Vol.2 page130 and by [[Per Erland Berg Wendelbo|Wendelbo]] in 'Flora Iranica' Vol.112 page37 in 1975.<ref name=Stapfia/>

Later in 1913, [[William Rickatson Dykes]], when he wrote his book the 'Genus Iris', placed the iris in the Regelia section. Then Lawrence in 1953 and Rodionenko in 1987 placed it in the Psammiris section.<ref name=wilson>{{cite journal |last=Wilson |first=Carol A. |last2= |first2= |date=2004 |title=Phylogeny of the genus Iris based on DNA sequence data |url=http://rsabg.org/iris/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=13 |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |publisher= |volume=33 |issue= |pages=402–412 |doi= 10.1016/j.ympev.2004.06.013|accessdate=25 April 2015 |pmid=15336674}}</ref> In 2004, Carol Wilson carried out a study on various irises including ''Iris falcifolia''. She thought that the iris was misplaced and that it had a bulb instead of a rhizome, so should be placed with the Juno ([[Iris subg. Scorpiris|Scorpiris]]) section.<ref name=wilson/>
In 2011, a molecular study was carried out and replaced the iris back within the Hexapogon section.<ref name=Linnean>{{cite journal |last=Ikinci |first=Nursel |last2=Hall |first2=Tony |last3= Lledó |first3=M. Dolores |last4= Clarkson |first4=James J. |last5=Tillie |first5= Nico |last6= Seisums |first6=Arnis |last7=Saito |first7=Takeshi |last8= Harley |first8=Madeline |last9=Chase |first9=Mark W. |date=2011 |title=Molecular phylogenetics of the juno irises, Iris subgenus Scorpiris (Iridaceae), based on six plastid markers |url=http://www.researchgate.net/...irises_Iris...Scorpiris.../00b4953075207ea955000000.pdf |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |publisher= |volume=167 |issue= |pages=281–300 |doi= 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2011.01176.x|accessdate=25 April 2015}}</ref>

It was verified by [[United States Department of Agriculture]] and the [[Agricultural Research Service]] on 2 October 2014.<ref name=grin/>

Iris falcifolia is an accepted name by the [[Royal Horticultural Society|RHS]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Iris falcifolia |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/23032/Iris-falcifolia/Details |publisher=rhs.org.uk |accessdate=10 April 2015}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
''Iris falcifolia'' is [[native plant|native]] to temperate and tropical regions of central Asia.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/><ref name=pacific/><ref name=crc/><ref name=grin/><ref name=Linnean/>

===Range===
It is found in temperate regions of Afghanistan,<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/><ref name=cassidy/><ref name=grin/><ref name=Stapfia/><ref name=handbook>{{cite web |first=William |last=Dykes |authorlink=William Rickatson Dykes |title=Handbook of Garden Irises |year=2009 |url=http://www.beardlessiris.org/reviews/handbook%20of%20garden%20irises%20-%20dykes.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=beardlessiris.org (The Group for Beardless Irises) |accessdate=1 November 2014}}</ref> Iran,<ref name=british/><ref name=crc/><ref name=grin/><ref name=Stapfia/> (in the former states of USSR),<ref name=ipni/> in Turkmenistan,<ref name=grin/><ref name=Stapfia/> Uzbekistan,<ref name=efloras/><ref name=grin/><ref name=Stapfia/> and Kazakhstan.<ref name=efloras/>

It is found in the tropical region of Pakistan,<ref name=grin/><ref name=Stapfia/> (also known as 'Baluchistan').<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/><ref name=crc/><ref name=Goodman/><ref name=Ratsch/><ref name=handbook/>

They are specifically found in [[Kara Kum]] (desert) and [[Kyzyl Kum]] (desert) in Kazakhstan.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=british/>

===Habitat===
It grows on the clay soils of deserts.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/>

They can be found at an altitude of {{convert|1200|m}} above sea level.<ref name=british/>

==Cultivation==
It is [[Hardiness (plants)|hardy]] to areas with hot dry summers and very cold, nearly dry winters.
It could be cultivated in zones similar to N America and parts of Australia.<ref name=british/>

It is occasionally grown in the UK but it is rare,<ref name=british/><ref name=stebbings/><ref name=handbook/> also getting it to bloom is even rarer.<ref name=Harris/>

It shares a similar geographic range with the [[Regelia]] irises.<ref name=british/>

A specimen was sent to Paris Botanical Garden.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/>

==Toxicity==
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause [[diarrhoea]], stomach pains and vomiting.<ref name=Goodman/>
The rhizome can also be toxic to domestic animals.<ref name=Goodman/>

==Uses==
''Iris falcifolia'' is used as a [[purgative]], an oil from the rhizomes was used as an ointment to treat [[rheumatism]].<ref name=crc/><ref name=Goodman/>

In Baluchistan (Pakistan), 10g of ground flowers (not just the pistils) are mixed with liquid yoghurt and then drunk in the mornings and evenings, as a herbal remedy for [[dysentery]].<ref name=Ratsch/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Other sources==
*Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR).
*Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 65–66.
*Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970–. Flora of (West) Pakistan.
*Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963–. Flora iranica.

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Iris falcifoliaa}}
*[http://www.wildbulbs.eu/iris.htm ''Iris falcifolia'' in South Tajikistan]
*{{Wikispecies-inline|Iris falcifolia}}

{{-}}
{{Iris subg. Iris}}

[[Category:Iris (plant)|falcifolia]]
[[Category:Flora of Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Flora of Iran]]
[[Category:Flora of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Flora of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Flora of Tajikistan]]
[[Category:Flora of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Garden plants of Asia]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1851]]

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Rjwilmsi: Journal cites, added 1 PMID using AWB (12142)