Iris histrio

Compare with Iris histrioides

Iris histrio
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Irideae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Hermodactyloides
Section: Reticulatae
Species: I. histrio
Binomial name
Iris histrio
Rchb.f.
Synonyms
  • Iris libani (Reuter)
  • Iris reticulata var. histrio (Foster)
  • Xiphion histrio (Rchb.f)[1]
  • Iridodictyum histrio (Rchb.f.)[2]

Iris histrio is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Hermodactyloides and Section Reticulatae. It is a bulbous perennial

It was first collected by Charles Gaillardot in Lebanon in 1854.[3][4] In 1873, Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach (Rchb.f) wrote about the bulb in his 'Botanische Notizen'.[5] This then joined the subspecies of iris reticulata, which has now been grouped with other under the subgenus of Hermodactyloides.[6]

Iris histrio is an accepted name by the RHS.[7]

It has baby blue flowers with intricate markings, shading to purplish blue at the base.[8]

Like other members of the Reticulatae group, such as Iris vartanii and Iris danfordiae, it throws out a very large number of small bulbils round the base of the bulb. If these are planted separately in a reserve ground, they will develop into flowering bulbs in the course of two or three years. Seedlings of I. vartani certainly, and of I. histrio normally needs protection at all times, especially in the UK.[9]

It can grow in loamy soils.[10]

Native

Originally located in Kyrgyzstan.[11] It can also be found in Israel,[12] Lebanon, Syria and as far west as southern Turkey.[13] It was on the list of highly dangered species in Lebanon in 2003.[14]

Hybrids

Iris histrio has been separated into two subspecies by Mathew (1989) as subsp. histrio and subsp. aintabensis because of variations in leaf, perigon tube and segment measurements.[10]

Iris histrio subsp. aintabensis has pale smaller blue flowers that are splashed darker on the falls and with a yellow or orange ridge. It is reported to be easier to grow than the species.[8] Also known as Iris histrio var. aintabensis.[15] It was found in the rocky scrublands of southern Turkey, in the Gaziantep-Maras region.[16]

Iris histrio subsp. atropurpurea (Dykes) has purple flowers but with no markings on the falls.[17] Found in 1913. This is now thought, to be a synonym of Iris reticulata var. reticulata.[18]

References

  1. Curtis's Botanical Magazine.
  2. "Iris histrio Rchb.f". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  3. W.R.Dykes. The Genus Iris. 1913
  4. Kew Herbarium
  5. "(SPEC) Iris histrio Reich". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  6. British Iris Society A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation , p. 279, at Google Books
  7. "Iris histrio". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Reticulata Irises". www.pacificbulbsociety.org. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  9. Foster, Prof. Michael (3 May 1892). "Bulbous Irises". www.archive.org (A Lecture delivered May 3, 1892 to the Royal Horticultural Society). Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  10. 1 2 Kandemir, Nezahat; Çeliki, Ali; Surucu, Abdulkadir (12 October 2011). "Ecological Response of some Iris L. Taxa (Iridaceae) In Turkey" (pdf). www.banglajol.info (Department of Biology, Education Faculty, Amasya University). Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  11. "Species Records of Iris subg. Hermodactyloides". Germplasm Resources Information Network (United States Department of Agriculture). Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  12. Fragman-Sapir, Dr Ori (16 March 2006). "Iris histrio". www.bulbsociety.org. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  13. "Iris histrio". rareplants.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  14. Saad, Layla; Khuri, Sawsan (4 August 2003). "Hanging in There by a Fall – The Oncocyclus Irises of Lebanon" (pdf). orbi.ulg.ac.be. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  15. Walters, Stuart Max (Editor 2011)European Garden Flora: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated, p. 354, at Google Books
  16. "Iris histrio". encyclopaedia.alpinegardensociety.net. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  17. Austin, Claire. "Irises A Garden Encyclopedia" (pdf). worldtracker.org. p. 287. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  18. "Iris histrio var. atropurpurea (Dykes)". apps.kew.org. Retrieved 21 July 2014.

Other sources

Media related to Iris histrio at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Iris histrio at Wikispecies

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