Iris kirkwoodiae var. macrotepala Chaudhary, G.Kirkw. & C.Weymouth
Iris kirkwoodiae (or Iris kirkwoodii) is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatousperennial, from Syria and Turkey. It has white or pale greenish flowers, heavily covered with dark purple veins or dots, deep purple round signal and a beard of long brown/purple hairs. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
It has a stout and compact rhizome,[2] which is stoloniferous and between 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) long, underneath the rhizome are long secondary roots, which help feed the plant mineral salts from the soil.[5]
It has 6-7 leaves, which grow up 30 cm (12 in) tall and between 0.5–2 cm (0.20–0.79 in) wide,[2][5] They are falcate,[2] or sickle shaped.[5]
It is tall,[6] growing up to between 30–75 cm (12–30 in) tall.[7][3][8]
It blooms between April and May,[2][9][5] with large,[5][3][10] sphere-like flowers.[6] It was determined that the plants found in Maras, Turkey seem to have the largest flowered forms.[2] It has a faint pleasant scent.[5]
The flowers are between 13–18 cm (5.1–7.1 in) in diameter,[2][5] and come in shades of beige,[5] white or pale greenish ground,[3][8][7] which is covered with violet,[3] or dark purple veins and spots.[2][9]
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'.[11]: 17 The standards are generally paler than the falls.[2] The standards are 7–10.5 cm (2.8–4.1 in) long and are 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) wide. The deflexed falls,[3] have a deep purple round or obovate signal patch,[2][8] and in the centre of the fall, is a sparse,[2] purple or brownish-purple beard.[7][8] Occasionally forms have a red-brown or yellow beard.[2]
It has style arms which have erect or reflexed lobes.[2]
After it has flowered, it produces a seed capsule that is about 9 cm (3.5 in) long.[2]
Genetics
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[11]: 18
It was counted as 2n=20,[5][7] by Avishai and Zohary in 1977.[6]
Taxonomy
It is known as Maras kurtkulağı in Turkish.[9][12] and it is written in Hebrew as איריס קירקווד .[13]
Specimens of the iris were collected by E. K. Balls and also by S. Albury, M. Cheese, and J. Watson in 1966, from Bishmishly, Northern Syria and Amanus Mountains, Turkey.[8] It was then originally described and published as Iris kirkwoodii in 'Botaniska Notiser', Vol.125 Issue 4 on page 499 in 1972.[1][8][14]
The specific epithetkirkwoodii, refers to Mrs Grace Kirkwood. A botanist along with Shaukat A. Chaudhary and Carolyne Weymouth first published and described other 'Section Oncocyclus' irises Iris assadiana and Iris swensoniana. With the standard form of G.Kirkw.[15] It was later published in Davis, P.H. (ed.) (1984). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands 8: 381–450. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.[8]
The spelling of the iris was corrected in accordance with Melbourne ICN Art. 60.12 and Rec. 60C.1(b) in 2011 to Iris kirkwoodiae, because Grace Kirkwood was a woman but much of the older published literature has the old spelling as I. Kirkwoodii.[8][14][16][17]
It has 2 synonyms that are often called subspecies of Iris kirkwoodiae; Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. calcarea,[6][19][20] (or Iris calcerea,[21]) and Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. macrotepala.[5]Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. macrotepala is sometimes referred to as a variety, such as Iris kirkwoodiae var. macrotepala. Having longer leaves and slightly different flowers,[2][7] it was also published in 1976 in 'Bot. Not.' Vol.128:[8]
It grows on the limestone rocks,[3][10] and stones,[2] and between cultivated fields.[3] It is normally found at 750–1,700 m (2,460–5,580 ft) above sea level.[2]
Conservation
The plant is considered 'rare,[5] as its natural habitat on Mount Ahır is threatened with destruction, due to the construction of houses and associated effects, road construction and the alteration to vineyards and gardens.[9]
Cultivation
It likes to grow in rocky soils, which stay dry in summer.[5]
Hybrids and cultivars
Iris kirkwoodii has several known crosses, such as: 'Code Of Silence', 'Delicate Embroidery', 'Diamond Tiara',[24] 'Engraved Invitation' (I. calcarea x I. yebrudii v. edgecombii),[25] 'Known Only To Him', 'Prim And Proper'.[8]
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.[26]
