Iris ruthenica
Template:Italic titleTemplate:Taxobox Iris ruthenica, sometimes called 'Ever Blooming Iris' (in the UK), 'Russian Iris', 'Pilgrim Iris' and 'Hungarian Iris' (in Europe), is a species in the genus Iris- subgenus Limniris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, with a wide distribution, ranging from eastern Europe to Central Asia. It has grass-like leaves, thick stem and violet or bluish lavender flowers which are marked with violet veining.
Contents
Description
Iris ruthenica is very variable and hybrids can look very similar to Iris uniflora.<ref name=efloras/> The other species in the Iris series Ruthenicae. It can be variable with its leaf length and width, and flower height.<ref name=alpine>Template:Cite web</ref>
It has a creeping rhizome,<ref name=botanic/><ref name=onego/><ref name=differences/><ref name=European>James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) Template:Google books</ref> (about 3-5mm in diameter) which is branched and has fibrous roots.<ref name=efloras/> The creeping rhizome forms a clump or a grass-like tuft plant.<ref name=alpine/><ref name=botanic/><ref name=clareaustin>Template:Cite web</ref>
It has bright green leaves<ref name=botanic/><ref name=European/><ref name=clareaustin/><ref name=hardy/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/> or greyish green leaves.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=differences/> That are tall and thin, and grass-like,<ref name=alpine/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=hungarian/><ref name=cassidy/> measuring between 10 – 40 cm (8–13 in) long and 2 – 6 mm wide.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=botanic/><ref name=onego/> The leaves can grow longer than the flower stem.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/>
The plant (stem and flowers) grows to a height of between 3–20 cm <ref name=onego/> ref name=signa/><ref name=efloras/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=European/><ref name=hungarian/>(12 in).<ref name=clareaustin/>
The thick stem is 2–3 cm wide,<ref name=FloraofUSSR>Template:Cite web</ref> can grow to heights of between 3–20 cm.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=botanic/><ref name=onego/><ref name=hungarian/> It has the remains of last years leaves at the base of the stem.<ref name=FloraofUSSR/>
It blooms in spring,<ref name=hardy/> (between May, June and July in the UK)<ref name=clareaustin/><ref name=signa/> or early to mid summer,<ref name=alpine/> with one normally, but occasionally 2 fragrant flowers.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=botanic/><ref name=onego/><ref name=European/><ref name=clareaustin/><ref name=hardy/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=cassidy>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=signa/>
The large flowers are between 3–5 cm in diameter,<ref name=efloras/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=botanic/><ref name=European/> with a cylindric,<ref name=FloraofUSSR/> perianth tube measuring 0.5--1.5 cm long.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=European/> The flowers come in a range of blue shades between violet <ref name=efloras/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=clareaustin/><ref name=signa/> and bluish lavender.<ref name=alpine/><ref name=onego/><ref name=cassidy/> Which are marked with violet veining.<ref name=alpine/><ref name=differences/><ref name=clareaustin/><ref name=hardy/> The falls (measuring 4.5–5 cm) are white.<ref name=alpine/><ref name=botanic/><ref name=differences/><ref name=European/><ref name=clareaustin/><ref name=cassidy/> The standards are (measuring 4–6 cm) are almost erect.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=botanic/><ref name=European/> The bracts (measuring 3–5 cm ) are greenish with pink margins,<ref name=European/> violet blue stigma,<ref name=hardy/> and milky white anthers.<ref name=efloras/>
It has a globose (globe-like) to ovoid shaped seed capsule (measuring 1.2--1.5 cm) in June–August (after the flowering period is over).<ref name=efloras/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/><ref name=dykes/> Once they are ripe, the seed capsules fully open and all the seeds are dispersed in one movement. Unlike other iris species.<ref name=dykes/> The seeds are pyriform (pear-shaped) and have an aril (white appendage on the edge of the seed).<ref name=efloras/><ref name=botanic/> The aril disappears soon after and shrivels up.<ref name=dykes/>
Biochemistry
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. Which can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.<ref name=ClaireAustin>Template:Cite web</ref> It has a chromosome count: 2n=84 <ref name=efloras/><ref name=signa>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=iapt>Template:Cite web</ref> (found by Simonet in 1934).<ref name=america/>
Taxonomy
It is written as 紫苞鸢尾 in Chinese script,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and known as 'zi bao yuan wei'.<ref name=efloras>Template:Cite web</ref>
It is named after the region of the 'Ruthenia', in Transylvania and Romania,<ref name=dykes>Template:Cite web</ref>
It has several common names; 'Ever Blooming Iris' (in the UK),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=rhs>Template:Cite web</ref> 'Russian Iris',<ref name=botanic>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=hardy>William RobinsonTemplate:Google books</ref><ref name=rhs/><ref>Aleksandr Leonidovich Kovalevsk (Editor)Template:Google books</ref> 'Pilgrim Iris' (sometimes called a synonym of Iris ruthenica),<ref name=america>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=rockgarden>Elizabeth Lawrence Template:Google books</ref> and 'Hungarian Iris' in Europe.<ref name=hungarian>Template:Cite web</ref>
It is known as ungersk iris in Sweden.<ref name=grin>Template:Cite web</ref>
Iris ruthenica was first published by John Bellenden Ker Gawler in Botanical Magazine in 1808.<ref name=grin/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was later published in 1811, as 'Iris ruthenica' with the common name 'Pigmy Iris' in Curtis's Botanical Magazine, vol. 34, table 1393.<ref name=america/> Pigmy Iris is now used as the common name of Iris pumila.
It was mentioned the journals of Captain Beechy's Voyage (in 1825).<ref name=beechy>William Jackson Hooker Template:Google books</ref>
It is mentioned in Cherepanov's Vascular Plants of Russia.<ref name=vascular>Sergeĭ Kirillovich Cherepanov Template:Google books</ref>
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 42 October 2014.<ref name=grin/>
Iris ruthenica is an accepted name by the RHS.<ref name=rhs/>
Distribution and habitat
Iris ruthenica is native to a wide region, including temperate Asia and Europe.<ref name=grin/>
Range
It is found in southern Russia and Siberia,<ref name=onego/><ref name=hardy/><ref name=FloraofUSSR/> through Central Asia,<ref>Mark V Lomolino, Dov F. Sax and James H Brown (editors)Template:Google books</ref> (including Altai Mountains and Turkestan,<ref name=dykes/> on the Tien Shen mountain range,<ref name=onego/> Kazakhstan and Mongolia)<ref name=greentours>Template:Cite web</ref> to China and Korea.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=European/><ref name=hungarian/><ref name=signa/><ref name=stebbings/> Within Europe, it is found in Romania.<ref name=grin/>
It is listed with Iris bloudowii, Iris humilis, Iris lactea, Iris sibirica, Iris tenuifolia and Iris tigridia as being found in the Altai-Sayan region (where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Habitat
It is found on dry meadows (including grass plains and steppes), pine and birch forest edges and edges of woodland.<ref name=alpine/><ref name=onego/><ref name=clareaustin/> It can also be found in forest clearings in the forest-meadow mountain belt. Forming a thicket ground-cover.<ref name=onego/>
In Mongolia it is found under Pinus sylvestris/Betula platyphylla subtaiga forests, in montane meadow steppes with Festuca lenensis and Artemisia sericea and in Pinus sibirica/Picea obovata dark taiga forests (within the upper montane belt with Rubus saxatilis and Lathyrus humilis).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Elsewhere in Eurasia, it is found in the Larch forests of Altai and Sayan mountains including Tuva).<ref>Folke Andersson (editor) Template:Google books</ref>
It is also found in Tuvan Forests as a subcanopy woody species.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On the Altai Mountains, it is found with other mountain flowers including Siberian Dogs-tooth Violet (Erythronium krylovii), Altai Foxtail Lily (Eremurus), a variety of saxifrages, Aquilegia, Gentiana grandiflora, Papaver nudicaule and the yellow Iris bloudowii.<ref name=greentours/>
At altitudes of between 1800 and 3600m.<ref name=efloras/><ref name=alpine/>
Cultivation
It is hardy to USDA Zone 2<ref name=botanic/> or Zone 3.<ref name=differences>Template:Cite web</ref>
Iris ruthenica does not flower very well in the UK.<ref name=cassidy/> It is best cultivated in fertile soils that do not dry out.<ref name=hardy>William RobinsonTemplate:Google books</ref><ref name=dykes/> It is best suited for Rock Gardens or at the front of a flower border.<ref name=hardy/><ref name=hungarian/><ref name=cassidy/><ref name=ClaireAustin /> Although sinks or troughs could be used.<ref name=cassidy/> It also grows well on dry peat banks<ref name=stebbings>Template:Cite book</ref> It is tolerant of semi-shade, but prefers full sun.<ref name=botanic/><ref name=differences/><ref name=cassidy/>
Unlike many other irises, it can only be moved with success, during the spring and summer when it is in full growth.<ref name=hungarian/><ref name=cassidy/><ref name=dykes/>
Iris ruthenica is grown in several Russian botanical gardens including, Barnaul, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, Kirov, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, St. Petersburg, Stavropol, Tomsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk and Chita.<ref name=onego>Template:Cite web</ref>
Propagation
It can be propagated by division or by seed.<ref name=differences/><ref name=dykes/> The seeds should be sown in the autumn and the rhizomes divided in early spring.<ref name=onego/> The seeds germinate fairly quickly and new plants are easily raised.<ref name=dykes/> But the young plants must not dry out.<ref name=hungarian/> The old and damaged rhizomes should be removed before replanting.<ref name=differences/>
Hybrids and Cultivars
Iris ruthenica var. nana was once thought to be a smaller variety of Iris ruthenica.<ref name=america/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but this is now considered a synonym.<ref name=plantlist/>
Although, Iris ruthenica var. brevituba which has a small perianth tube<ref name=efloras/> and violet flowers,<ref name=jardin>Template:Cite web</ref> it is also now considered a variant.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Iris ruthenica has the following known cultivars;
- 'Gamlin Blue' <ref name=america/><ref name=hort>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 'Red Form'<ref name=america/><ref name=hort/>
References
Other sources
- Aldén, B., S. Ryman & M. Hjertson. 2009. Våra kulturväxters namn - ursprung och användning. Formas, Stockholm (Handbook on Swedish cultivated and utility plants, their names and origin).
- Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR).
- Khassanov, F. O. & N. Rakhimova. 2012. Taxonomic revision of the genus Iris L. (Iridaceae Juss.) for the flora of Central Asia. Stapfia 97:175.
- Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR.
- Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 83.
- Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea.
- Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China.
