Difference between revisions of "Iris falcifolia"
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Template:Italic titleTemplate:Taxobox Iris falcifolia is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Hexapogon section. It is a rhizomatous 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, temperate regions.
Contents
Description
It has a thick, short, rhizome.<ref name=Fedorov>Andreĭ Aleksandrovich Fedorov (Editor)Template:Google books</ref><ref name=efloras>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=FloraofUSSR>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=british>British Iris Society (1997) Template:Google books</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>Template:Cite web</ref> They can grow up to Template:Convert long and 2–4 mm wide.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/><ref name=cassidy>Template:Cite book</ref>
It is a dwarf plant,<ref name=stebbings>Template:Cite book</ref> It has stem (or peduncle) that can grow up to between Template:Convert long.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=british/><ref name=american/><ref name=cassidy/><ref name=pacific>Template:Cite web</ref> The stem is hidden by 1-2 sheathing leaves.<ref name=british/>
The stems have 3-4 spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that are Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert 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>Template:Cite book</ref> The falls are oblong or lanceolate-obovate shaped, and are Template:Convert 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>Template:Cite web</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, Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert 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 Template:Google books</ref><ref name=Goodman>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Ratsch>Christian Rätsch Template:Google books</ref>
The Latin specific epithet falcifolia refers to 'sickle shaped leaves'.<ref>Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=grin>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite journal</ref> Later published in 1941, 'Flora Uzbek' Vol.1 page 510, in 1971 in 'Consp. Fl. As. Med.' Vol.2 page130 and by 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>Template:Cite journal</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 (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>Template:Cite journal</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 RHS.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Distribution and habitat
Iris falcifolia is 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>Template:Cite web</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 Template:Convert above sea level.<ref name=british/>
Cultivation
It is 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
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.
