Iris longiscapa
Template:Italic titleTemplate:Taxobox Iris longiscapa 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 the deserts of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. They have grass-like leaves, lilac-violet or blue-purple flowers, on a tall slender stem.
It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions
Contents
Description
It is very similar in form to Iris songarica.<ref name=Rangelands>Gustave Gintzburger Template:Google books</ref>
It has a short, small rhizome.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=planet>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=irisbotanique>Template:Cite web</ref> It produces small, nut-like segments, (which are smaller than Iris falcifolia), one per year, that spread to create small creeping, dense tufts of plants.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR>Template:Cite web</ref> On top of the rhizome are the fibrous remains of the previous seasons leaves.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/> Underneath, it has plenty of thick roots.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/>
It has basal, green, grass-like or filiform (thread-like) linear leaves.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=planet/><ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=american>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=alpine>Template:Cite web</ref> They are narrow, deciduous and between Template:Convert wide.<ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=american/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=british>British Iris Society (1997) Template:Google books</ref> The leaves are much narrower and straighter than Iris falcifolia.<ref name=alpine/><ref name=british/>
It has a slender stem (or peduncle) that can grow up to between Template:Convert long.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=planet/><ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=american/><ref name=pacific>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=cassidy>Template:Cite book</ref> It is more longer and slender than Iris falcifolia,<ref name=FloraofUSSR/> but shorter than Iris songarica.<ref name=Rangelands/>
The stems have 3 spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which are narrow and are acuminated (ending in a sharp point), and they have a hyaline (clear and translucent) or membranous margin.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/> The spathes have a small peduncle (stalk) that are between Template:Convert long.<ref name=american/>
The stems hold short pedicels (flower stalks), which are Template:Convert long,<ref name=american/> they hold 2-5 flowers,<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=planet/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=american/><ref name=cassidy/> between April and May.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/>
The flowers are Template:Convert in diameter,<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=american/><ref name=british/> they are slightly smaller than Iris falcifolia,<ref name=FloraofUSSR/> but smaller than Iris songarica.<ref name=Rangelands/> They come in shades of lilac-violet,<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=american/><ref name=pacific/> or blue-purple,<ref name=planet/><ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=cassidy/><ref name=rare/> 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 shaped,<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/> and have darker veins along the margins.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=american/> In the centre of the falls, is a large, white, clavate (shaped like a club) beard.<ref name=planet/><ref name=american/> It has a fine yellow centre.<ref name=planet/><ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=pacific/><ref name=rare>Template:Cite web</ref> The standards are erect, narrowly spatulate and can sometimes have hairs.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/>
The flowers are bisexual and actinomorphic (have radial symmetry).<ref name=Rangelands/>
After the iris has flowered, it produces a pointed, 3-angled,<ref name=FloraofUSSR/> or 3 edged seed capsule,<ref name=Rangelands/> Template:Convert long.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/>
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=irisbotanique/><ref name=pacific/><ref name=rare/> carried out by Zakharyeva in 1985.<ref name=american/>
Taxonomy
It is known locally as 'teke-sakal (in Turkmenistan) and kacathk (in Uzbekistan).<ref name=Rangelands/>
The Latin specific epithet longiscapa refers to long, slender stem,<ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=rare/> or long scape.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
It was first published and described by Carl Friedrich von Ledebour in 'Flora Rossica sive Enumeratio Plantarum in Totius Imperii Rossici Provinciis Europaeis, Asiaticis, et Americanis Hucusque Observatarum. Stuttgartiae' (Fl. Ross.) Vol.4 Issue12 page93 in April 1852.<ref name=american/><ref>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/> The synonym Iris filifolia Boiss. was published in 'Voy. Espagne' (1839–45) page602 in 1839.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/>
It has never been illustrated except for a small drawing of one flower published in Komarov's 'Flora USSR' in Vol.4, table34 in 1935.<ref name=american/>
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 2 October 2014.<ref name=grin/>
Distribution and habitat
Iris longiscapa is native to temperate regions of Central Asia.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=pacific/><ref name=grin/>
Range
It is found in (the former states of USSR),<ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=rare/> of Kazakhstan,<ref name=grin/><ref name=Turanian>Template:Cite web</ref> Afghanistan,<ref name=cassidy/> Tajikistan,<ref name=grin/> Turkmenistan,<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=planet/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=grin/><ref>AP Mabuza Template:Google books</ref> and Uzbekistan.<ref name=planet/><ref name=grin/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is also found in Iran,<ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=rare/> or the Turanian deserts.<ref name=aralkum>Siegmar-W. Breckle, Walter Wucherer, Liliya A. Dimeyeva and Nathalia P. Ogar (Editors)Template:Google books</ref>
They are specifically found in the deserts of Kara Kum and Kyzyl Kum.<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=american/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=british/>
Habitat
It is a (psammophyte) and grows in the sandy-clay deserts,<ref name=Rangelands/><ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=cassidy/> or on granite hills.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/> The soils contain NoH.<ref name=aralkum/>
It is also found in the Turanian gypsophilic (gypsum-loving) sagebrush lands of Kazakhstan, growing with Gagea reticulata, Nonea caspica and Tulipa sogdiana.<ref name=Turanian/>
Uses
A harvest of dry leaves of the iris are used as a litter for cattle in barns in Uzbekistan.<ref name=Rangelands/>
It is eaten in spring by sheep in .<ref>J. R. Goodin and David K. Northington (Editors) Template:Google books</ref>
Cultivation
Iris longiscapa is cultivated as an ornamental plant, though it is rare.<ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=rare/>
It is not hardy in Europe, and should be grown in a pot or a cold greenhouse.<ref name=irisbotanique/> It is grown in loamy soils, in full sun with good drainage.<ref name=rare/> It needs to rest and be dry over summer, after it flowers.<ref name=rare/> It needs to be grown in full sun.<ref name=irisbotanique/>
A specimen was sent to Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/>
References
Other sources
- Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR).
- Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR.
- Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 66.
