Difference between revisions of "Iris glaucescens"

Latest revision as of 01:01, 17 May 2026

Template:Italic titleTemplate:Taxobox Iris glaucescens is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Asia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. It has blue-grey sickle-shaped leaves, slender stem, and spring flowers in blue-violet, pale violet, lilac-purple, to deep purple, to light bluish, and almost white shades.It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It was merged with another similar iris in the region, and became a synonym of Iris scariosa, before being divided into two separate species again. Although some sources still call it a synonym of Iris scariosa.

Description

It has a thick rhizome, which is up to 3 cm thick and nodular. It has the fibrous remains of last seasons leaves, on top of the rhizome.<ref name=lesnoj>Template:Cite web</ref>

It has falcate (sickle-shaped),<ref name=samluka>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=knigi>Template:Cite web</ref> blue-grey,<ref name=samluka/> or grey.<ref name=lesnoj/><ref name=canadian>Template:Cite web</ref>

It has a slender stem, that can grow up to between Template:Convert tall.<ref name=pacific/><ref name=lesnoj/><ref name=signa>Template:Cite web</ref> It is similar in height to Iris scariosa,<ref name=signa/> and exceeds the height of the leaves.<ref name=lesnoj/>

The stem has (scarious) membranous, spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that are Template:Convert long with long keels.<ref name=samluka/>

The stems hold 2 terminal (top of stem) flowers,<ref name=lesnoj/> blooming between mid to late spring,<ref name=samluka/> between April and May.<ref name=lesnoj/><ref>Moskovskoe Obščestvo Ispytatelej Prirody Template:Google books</ref> It flowers for an average of 12 days.<ref name=samluka/>

The flowers are Template:Convert in diameter,<ref name=samluka/> come in shades of blue-violet,<ref name=pacific/><ref name=signa/> pale violet,<ref name=signa/> lilac-purple,<ref name=lesnoj/> to deep purple,<ref name=signa/> to light bluish, and almost white tones.<ref name=samluka/>

Like other irises, 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>Template:Rp It also has white beards on the falls.<ref name=lesnoj/>

After the iris has flowered, in midsummer,<ref name=samluka/> it produces an fusiform (spindle shaped) seed capsule.<ref name=lesnoj/> Inside the capsule, are wrinkled, dark brown,<ref name=lesnoj/> and globular seeds. They are 4-5.5mm long and 2-3mm wide.<ref name=samluka/>

Biochemistry

In 2012, a study was carried out 2 Siberian based irises, Iris glaucescens and Iris bloudowii.<ref name=Nabieva>Template:Cite journal</ref>

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.<ref name=ClaireAustin/>Template:Rp It has a chromosome count of 2n=24.<ref name=earthpapers>Template:Cite web</ref>

Taxonomy

It has the common names of 'Bluish Iris',<ref name=knigi/><ref name=oopt>Template:Cite web</ref> and 'Iris dove'.<ref name=samluka/>

The Latin specific epithet glaucescens refers to developing a fine whitish bloom, bluish-green, seagreen, or glaucous.<ref>D. Gledhill Template:Google books</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Referring to the plants glaucous leaves.<ref name=handbook>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Paris Museum of Natural History, a herbarium was started by a French geologist Patren, who collected plants from Siberia. German botanist Carl Friedrich von Ledebour also worked at the herbarium for several years with his students Alexander Andrejewitsch Bunge and Carl Anton von Meyer. They discovered and described many new plants, including Iris bloudowii, Iris glaucescens, Iris tigridia and others.<ref name=altai>Template:Cite web</ref>

It was first published and described by Alexander Bunge in 'Flora Altaic' (Fl. Altaic edited by Ledebour) Vol.1 on page 58 in 1829.<ref name=ipni>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=grin>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=american>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1870, specimens of Iris glaucescens were collected in 'Songaria', China (Songaria is now part of Gansu) for the Paris Museum of Natural History.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

It was then later classified as a synonym of Iris scariosa by botanists including William Rickatson Dykes in 1913 and G. Rodionenko's descriptions in the 'Iris Year Book' of 1967.<ref name=british/>

In 1979, Shevchenko (Iris L. in A.I.Galushko (editor) 'Flora Severnogo Kavkaza' Vol.3 page79, University of Rostov) divided Iris glaucescens and Iris scariosa into 2 separate species.<ref name=pacific/><ref name=american/> He thought that there was several morphological and ecological differences between the 2 species. But he did not publish these. Also he noted that the Iris scariosa distribution range was limited to west of the Caspian Sea.<ref name=british>British Iris Society (1997) Template:Google books</ref> But this range classification is disputed by other authors, although most sources still split the two irises into separate species.

It is still listed as a synonym of Iris scariosa by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service as of 4 September 2015.<ref name=grin/>

It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life.<ref name=eol>Template:Cite web</ref>

It is listed in The Plant List, but listed without synonyms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Iris glaucescens is not yet an accepted name by the RHS, as of 6 October 2015.

Distribution and habitat

It is native in middle Asia,<ref name=alexeeva>Template:Cite journal</ref> and central Asia.<ref name=lipsky>V.I. Lipsky Template:Google books</ref><ref name=greifswald>Template:Cite web</ref>

Range

It is unsure where Iris glaucescens is endemic due to the merging with Iris scarious which also has a very similar range as well. Although, Iris scariosa is only found near the Caspian sea and Caucasia.<ref name=earthpapers/>

It is found in Russia (within Siberia,<ref name=Nabieva/><ref name=american/><ref name=alexeeva/> Barnaul,<ref name=lesnoj/>), China,<ref name=samluka/><ref name=alexeeva/> Mongolia,<ref name=american/><ref name=alexeeva/><ref name=greifswald/> and Kazakhstan (north of the Aral Sea to the east of Balkash,<ref name=pacific/><ref name=signa/>).<ref name=samluka/><ref name=alexeeva/>

It was also found in the former Russian Turkistan khanates of Bukhara and Khiva.<ref name="lipsky"/> Now in Uzbekistan.

It is listed with Iris biglumis, Iris bloudowii, Iris ruthenica, Iris sibirica, Iris tenuifolia and Iris tigridia (another Pseudoregelia Iris) in the Altai-Sayan region (where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Habitat

It grows on the mountains,<ref name=greifswald/> of steppes,<ref name=lesnoj/><ref name=Nabieva/><ref name=alexeeva/> on rocky slopes,<ref name=lesnoj/><ref name=signa/><ref name=greifswald/> in sand.<ref name=signa/><ref name=alexeeva/><ref name=greifswald/>

They can be found at an altitude of up to Template:Convert above sea level.<ref name=earthpapers/><ref name=greifswald/>

Conservation

In Russia, it was listed in the Red book of Omsk region as apparently extinct.<ref name=knigi/><ref name=oopt/>

It is listed in the Red book of the Altai Territory (in 2006),<ref name=lesnoj/><ref name=Nabieva/><ref name=oopt/> as rare,<ref name=samluka/><ref name=knigi/><ref name=earthpapers/> in the Red book of Krasnoyarsk territory (in 2005), also in the Red book of Novosibirsk ob-region (in 2008),<ref name=Nabieva/><ref name=oopt/> and in the Red book of Chelyabinsk region.<ref name=oopt/>

It is not protected under law,<ref name=knigi/> but it is found in Kulunda Steppe reserve.<ref name=lesnoj/> It is found in 48 locations, with up to 20,000 plants.<ref name=lesnoj/>

It was confined to land that is also used as grazing or arable land,<ref name=Nabieva/> or ploughing of fallow plots.<ref name=lesnoj/>

Cultivation

It is hardy to between USDA Zone 2 and Zone 3.<ref name=signa/>

It was tested for hardiness in Russia, at the botanical gardens of Barnaul, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg (where it winters without shelter), Ufa (it produces seeds), but it has proved difficult to cultivate.<ref name=knigi/> As it needs hot summers and dry winters.<ref name=signa/>

It prefers to grow in a well drained sandy soils.<ref name=british/>

It can be grown in rock gardens,<ref name=samluka/><ref name=knigi/> as well as for perennial borders as an early spring plant.<ref name=knigi/><ref name=alexeeva/>

It does suffer in waterlogged soils, that may rot the rhizomes.<ref name=knigi/>

It is rarely available for cultivation.<ref name=british/>

Hybrids and Cultivars

The plant may attract plant breeders for cross-breeding with other types of dwarf irises due to its drought and salt resistance.<ref name=alexeeva/>

Toxicity

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.<ref>David G Spoerke and Susan C. SmolinskeTemplate:Google books</ref>

References

Template:Reflist

Other sources

• Khassanov, F. O. & N. Rakhimova. 2012. Taxonomic revision of the genus Iris L. (Iridaceae Juss.) for the flora of Central Asia. Stapfia 97:177.
• Krasnoborov, I. M., ed. 2000–. Flora of Siberia (English translation). [accepts].
• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 28, 34.

External links

• Has many images of the iris

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