Iris lactea
Template:Italic titleTemplate:Taxobox Iris lactea is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Limniris. It is also in the Iris series Ensatae, it is the only species in the series, Iris Ensate is actually in Iris series Laevigatae. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from central Asia, with pale blue or violet flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Contents
Description
Iris lactea has a thick creeping rhizome,<ref name=botany/><ref name=efloras/> that is covered in reddish purple fibres.<ref name=india/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir>Template:Cite web</ref>
It grows to a height of between, 3–50 cm (1–18 in).<ref name=efloras/><ref name=india/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir/><ref name=signa/> With a 10–30 cm (4–12 in) flowering stem.<ref name=cassidy/><ref name=ClaireAustin/>
It has 2-4 flowers per stem, blooming between April and June,<ref name=botany/><ref name=india/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir/> or May and August in the UK.<ref name=ClaireAustin/> The violet scented flowers,<ref name=america/> can last for 2–3 weeks,<ref name=efloras/> and measure about 5–7.5 cm in diameter.<ref name=botany/><ref name=efloras/><ref name=china/>
It has lanceolate (lance-shaped), green spathes, measuring 4.5-10 x 0.8-1.6 cm.<ref name=botany/><ref name=india/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir/>
The flowers come in a range of shades from pale blue to violet,<ref name=efloras/><ref name=ClaireAustin/> white<ref name=signa/><ref name=pacific>Template:Cite web</ref> or yellow.<ref name=botany/><ref name=india/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir/> It has dark standards, delicate white falls, which are striated with blue, red-purple<ref name=cassidy/> or violet.<ref name=ClaireAustin/>
It has flower stalks (pedicel) measure about 4–7 cm long, with a very short perianth tube (3 mm), 2.5–3.2 cm stamens and yellow anthers.<ref name=india/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir/>
The leaves are linear, mostly ribbed, greyish green, rising from the base of the plant. They are between 14–70 cm long and between 3-7mm wide.<ref name=botany/><ref name=india/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir/>
It fruits (makes seeds) between June and September (after flowering), the seed capsule is narrow and cylindric in shape, with 6 ribs running along the side of the capsule, which ends in a beak-like point. The capsule measures 6.5–7.5 × 1–1.4 cm. The fruiting stems are unequal, ranging from 4–10 cm. Inside the capsule, are maroon-brown seeds which are pyriform.<ref name=botany/><ref name=india/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir/>
Biochemistry
In 2008, a study was carried out on the anatomical structure of the leaf and drought resistance of 4 different species of Iris (Iris songarica, Iris potaninii, Iris loczyi and Iris lactea) from Qinghai, China. It showed that all the species were strongly adaptable to drought conditions.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
In 2009, a karyotype analysis was carried out on 10 Irises found in China, it found the chromosome counts, including Iris lactea of 2n=40.<ref name=Karyotype>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:Cite web</ref> It has a chromosome count: 2n=40, 44, 50<ref name=signa/><ref name=america/>
Taxonomy
It is commonly known in the UK as the 'White Flowered Iris'<ref name=rhs>Template:Cite web</ref> or in the US as 'Milky Iris'.<ref name=india>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer OgdenTemplate:Google books</ref> It is known as 'majiris', in Sweden.<ref name=grin>Template:Cite web</ref>
In Ladakhi of Tibet, it is known as 'Tesmamentok'.<ref name=india/> Meaning pale purple flower.<ref>Sanjeev KumarTemplate:Google books</ref>
The Latin specific epithet Lactea means milky color.<ref name=america/> Hence, common name of 'Milky Iris'.
In China, it is written as 白花马蔺 白花马蔺 in Chinese script and known as 'bai hua ma lin' in Pidgin in China.<ref name=china>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=grin/> It also known as Ma Lin or Malan flower.<ref name=salt>Template:Cite web</ref>
It was first published and described by Pallas in 'Reise Russ. Reich' (Reise durch Verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs - translated as 'Travel through various provinces of the Russian Empire') in 1776.<ref name=grin/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The taxonomy of this species has been very confused. It was then named Iris ensata lactea (Thunberg) in 'Transactions of the Linnean Society of London' (page 328) on 1 May 1794 but later Iris ensata was re-classified as Iris kaempferi. Which is now a synonym of Iris ensata (within Iris series Laevigatae). Even Dykes in his books 'Iris Genus'(1913) and 'Handbook of Iris'(19 ) got the name incorrect and recorded it as 'Iris ensata'. Later, writers have tried to rectify the mistake. Fritz Kohlein in his book 'Iris'(1987) called it 'Iris ensata auct. non Thunberg.'<ref name=america/>
Many new names were considered but finding out which name was first used and should have precedence has been difficult. So it has generally been left as Iris lactea(Pallas).<ref name=cassidy>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=america>Template:Cite web</ref>
Iris lactea is an accepted name by the RHS.<ref name=rhs/>
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 2 October 2014.<ref name=grin/>
Distribution and habitat
Iris lactea comes from wide range of areas. It is native to temperate and tropical regions of Asia.<ref name=grin/>
Range
It is found in Afghanistan, Kashmir (including Guraiz and Himachal Pradesh)<ref name=india/><ref name=kashmir/> Kazakhstan, Central Asia, India (including Ladakh),<ref name=india/> Pakistan,<ref name=india/> Russia (in Siberia<ref name=efloras/> and Primorye<ref name=botany/>), Tibet, China, Mongolia to Korea.<ref name=botany/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir/><ref name=signa/><ref name=cassidy/><ref name=pacific/> In China, it is found within the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan,<ref name=Karyotype/> Xinjiang and Xi-zang(Chinese Tibet).<ref name=china/>
It is listed with Iris bloudowii,Iris humilis, Iris ruthenica, 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>
It is regarded as a wildflower in India and China.<ref name=india/><ref name=china/>
Habitat
Iris lactea grows in a wide range of habitats. Including steppe meadows, turf slopes,<ref name=efloras/> heavily grazed river shore within desert steppe,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> grasslands, roadsides,<ref name=china/> grassy slopes and hillsides.<ref name=botany/><ref name=china/>
It grows at altitudes of between 600–3800m above sea level.<ref name=botany/><ref name=china/><ref name=kashmir/>
It flowers as late as late summer in the wild.<ref name=stebbings/>
Cultivation
Since Iris lactea, is one of the most common wild irises across all of China, living it a diverse range of habitats. It is very tolerant of most garden conditions.<ref name=america/>
It is hardy to USDA Zones 3-9.<ref name=signa>Template:Cite web</ref>
It is very tolerant plant, growing in a variety of soils (including those that dry out in summer),<ref name=ClaireAustin/><ref name=stebbings>Template:Cite book</ref> salty areas and can be used as a soil improver.<ref name=ClaireAustin/><ref name=salt/> Such as being cultivated on slopes (to conserve water|), on high salty soils (to remove the salt) and desertification control.<ref name=salt/> It prefers sunny places, but can grow successfully in shady places.<ref name=efloras/> It has a strong resistance to water logging, salinity, trampling, poor, pest and disease.<ref name=salt/>
It has been planted in mass on high leaded soils to reduce the lead contamination.<ref>Template:Google books</ref>
It is suitable for cultivation in rock gardens and group planting.<ref name=efloras>Template:Cite web</ref>
Propagation
It can be propagated by seed and by division.<ref name=efloras/>
Hybrids and Cultivars
Many of the synonyms may represent distinct varieties of lactea. The following is a list of named variations botanical and horticultural;
- 'Biglumis' (Robert Sweet, 1835, Siberia) -now called 'Iris lactea Pallas var. biglumis' Koidz.) <ref name=america/>
- 'Chinensis' (which grows in Korea, Russia and India)<ref name=ClaireAustin/><ref name=america/>
- 'Chrysantha' (yellow flowers)<ref name=china/><ref name=ClaireAustin/>
- 'Ensata Chinensis'
- 'Ensata Grandiflora' (Dykes 1913)
- 'Ensata Grandiflora Alba' (White form of 'Ensata Grandiflora', found at Ohio State University Bot. Garden 1933)
- 'Hyacinthiana' (Collected by Reginald Farrer, 1914-1915, Tibet or W. China-Kansu)
- 'Iliensis' (Poljakov, From near the Ili River, Kazakhstan)
- 'Illini Fountain' (1993, Budapest, Hungary)
- 'Mani' (1935, Tibet)
- 'Moorcroftiana' (Wallich 1828)
- 'Pabularia' (1888, Kashmir)
- 'Redundant' (2002,Denver Botanic Garden)<ref name=america/>
- var. lactea (white flowers,<ref name=ClaireAustin/> with purple veins and pale violet inner segments)<ref name=china/>
Iris lactea has been used in hybridization for the selection of dwarf bearded irises.<ref name=efloras/>
Known Hybrids:
- 'Calsata Hybrids' (Tomas Tamberg, 1979, cross of Iris douglasiana X Iris ensata)
- 'Chrysata Charme' (Tamberg, 2001, cross of Sino-sibirica X I. lactea)
- 'Hamadryad' (1931, Iris 'Watsoniana' X Iris ensata)<ref name=america/>
Uses
It is widely grown throughout China, where it is often used as an ingredient in a herbal contraceptive.<ref name=ClaireAustin/> It has also been used in anti-cancer drug 'Irisquinone', which comes from a herbal remedy.<ref>Michael A. Lerner Template:Google books</ref> The rhizomes are also used in traditional oriental medicine,<ref name=botany>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=india/><ref name=salt/> including Tibet.<ref>Dr Barry Clark (translator) Template:Google books</ref> The flowers and seeds can also be used in medicines.<ref name=salt/> The dried flowers can by used an ingredient to remedy diuretic laxative. The seeds are used to treat many ailments including; fever, jaundice, menorrhagia, heat pain, nausea, sore throats, vomiting, urination, carbuncles and boil problems.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The leaves are used as fodder for animals, and for thatching, matting and basket work,<ref name=botany/><ref name=india/> and its leaf fibres are also used in paper making and for brushes.<ref name=ClaireAustin/> The flowers contain the pigment - anthocyanin.<ref name=india/>
It has also been used in veterinary medicine. The consumption of the flowers and seeds is thought to increase a cow's milk yield.<ref>Umberto Quattrocchi Template:Google books</ref>
Culture
In Afghanistan, it has been banned by the Taliban.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This maybe due to it use in herbal medicines.
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).
- Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959–. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
- Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR).
- Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening.
- Khassanov, F. O. & N. Rakhimova. 2012. Taxonomic revision of the genus Iris L. (Iridaceae Juss.) for the flora of Central Asia. Stapfia 97:175.
- Kitagawa, M. 1979. Neo-lineamenta florae Manshuricae.
- Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR. [= I. ensata Thunb.].
- Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 125–127.
- Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970–. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
- Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China.
- Walters, S. M. et al., eds. 1986–. European garden flora.
External links
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