Iris narcissiflora

Iris narcissiflora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris subg. Iris
Section: Iris sect. Pseudoregelia
Species:
I. narcissiflora
Binomial name
Iris narcissiflora
Synonyms[1]

None known

Iris narcissiflora is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Pseudoregelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from China. It has pale green, thin, sword-shaped leaves, medium-long slender stem and 1 yellow flower. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Description

It has short, fibrous rhizomes.[2][3] That has secondary roots or slender stolons.[2][3]

It has pale green and linear leaves, that are sword-shaped and can grow up to between 12–25 cm (5–10 in) long,[2][3] and between 0.2 and 0.3 cm wide.[2] They do not have a midvein.[2] The deciduous leaves, disappear in winter or after flowering.[3]

It has a slender stem, that can grow up to between 18–30 cm (7–12 in) tall.[4][5][6]

The stem has 2 purplish-green, lanceolate spathe (leaves of the flower bud). They can grow up to between 2.5–3.3 cm (1–1 in) long and 1.2 cm wide.[2]

The stems hold 1 terminal (top of stem) flower,[3] blooming between April and May.[2][4][6]

The flat looking flower is 5–5.5 cm (2–2 in) in diameter, and is yellow.[2][3][5]

It has a perianth tube that is 3 – 4 mm long.[2]

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'.[7] The falls are elliptic or obovate (ovate with the narrower end at the base) in shape, they are 3.5 cm (1 in) long and 2.5 cm wide.[2] In the centre of the petal, is a narrow, sparse beard.[2][3][5] The standards are narrow and ovate (oval-like) shaped, they are 2.8 cm long and 1.6 cm wide.[2]

It has 1.3 cm long stamens, 1.5 cm long ovary. It has a 1.5 cm long and 8 mm wide, spreading style branch, that has irregularly toothed lobes.[2]

After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule between June and August.[2]

Biochemistry

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[7] Nothing has been reported currently as of August 2015, about a chromosome count of the iris.

Taxonomy

It is commonly known as narcissus iris.[8]

It is written as 水仙花鸢尾 in Chinese script,[2] and known as shui xian hua yuan wei in Pidgin.[2][8]

The Latin specific epithet narcissiflora refers to having narcissus-like flowers.[9]

It was first published and described by Friedrich Ludwig Emil Diels in 'Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift' (Svensk Bot. Tidskr.) in Vol.18 on page 428 in 1924.[2][8][10][11]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated on 3 December 2004.[8]

It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life.[12]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to temperate Asia.[8][12]

Range

It is found in China,[6] within the province of Sichuan.[2][4][5]

Habitat

It grows in forests, at the edge of forests and in hillside grasslands and meadows.[2][3][12]

They can be found at an altitude of 3,900 m (12,800 ft) above sea level.[6]

Cultivation

It is hardy,[4] to RHS Zone H7.[6] Meaning colder than −20 °C (or < -4 °F).[13]

It prefers to grow in well-drained soils, in sun or partial shade.[4]

It takes time for the plant get established in new planting sites.[3]

It is a rare plant in Europe.[3][4]

In some herbariums and Botanical Gardens, specimens labelled as Iris narcissiflora have later been re-classified as Iris dolichosiphon.[3]

Toxicity

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also, handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Iris narcissiflora Diels is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "FOC Vol. 24 Page 310". efloras.org (Flora of China). Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Chapter I (Part 7) Pseudoregelia". irisbotanique.com. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Iris narcissiflora". vivaiozanelli.com. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Iris narcissiflora". cgf.net. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  7. ^ a b Austin, Claire (2005). Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press. ISBN 978-0881927306.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Iris narcissiflora". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  9. ^ D. Gledhill The Names of Plants, p. 260, at Google Books
  10. ^ "Iridaceae Iris narcissiflora Diels". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  11. ^ Franco, Alain (29 November 2013). "(SPEC) Iris narcissiflora Diehls". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "Iris narcissiflora". eol.org. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  13. ^ Gardiner, Jim (February 2013). "New RHS hardiness ratings". rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  14. ^ David G Spoerke and Susan C. SmolinskeToxicity of Houseplants, p. 236, at Google Books

Sources

  • Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 180.
  • Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China.
  • Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994–. Flora of China (English edition).