Trimezia martinicensis

Trimezia martinicensis
Naturalized in Malaysia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Trimezia
Species: T. martinicensis
Binomial name
Trimezia martinicensis
(Jacq.) Herb.[1]

Trimezia martinicensis is a species of bulbous plant in the family Iridaceae. Originally from South America and the West Indies, it is now widely naturalized throughout the tropics.[1][2] Common names include Yellow Walking Iris[3] and Forenoon Yellow Flag.[4]

Distinction from T. steyermarkii

Trimezia martinicensis is closely related to T. steyermarkii,[5] with which it has been widely confused.[6] Clive Innes describes T. martinicensis as having a brown mark at the base of each outer tepal, whereas T. steyermarkii has brownish-purple bands.[7] In Kubitzki & Huber (1998), the flowers of T. martinicensis are shown as opening less widely than those of T. steyermarkii. The inner tepals of both species are S-shaped in cross-section; those of T. martinicensis are more-or-less upright (Innes describes them as "folded inwards"[8]), whereas those of T. steyermarkii bend outwards into a more elongated shape so that the top of the S is not visible from above.[9] A diagnostic feature is that the style crests of T. martinicensis are short, whereas those of T. steyermarkii are longer,[9] about 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, comparable in length to its anthers, which are about 4 mm (0.16 in) long.[10] Another difference is that the leaves of T. martinicensis are narrower, only about 1.3 cm (0.5 in) wide, whereas those of T. steyermarkii are 2.5–3.4 cm (1.0–1.3 in) wide.[11]

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References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Trimezia martinicensis", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), retrieved 2012-04-27
  2. ↑ Innes, Clive (1985), The World of Iridaceae, Ashington, UK: Holly Gate International, ISBN 978-0-948236-01-3, p. 377
  3. ↑ University of North Florida
  4. ↑ Henderson, M.R. (1961), Common Malaysian Wildflowers, London, etc.: Longman, p. 57
  5. ↑ Innes 1985, p. 378
  6. ↑ Trimezia, Pacific Bulb Society, archived from the original on 2012-04-27, retrieved 2012-04-27
  7. ↑ Innes 1985, pp. 377–378
  8. ↑ Innes 1985, p. 377.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kubitzki, Klaus & Huber, Herbert, eds. (1998), The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants : Volume III, Flowering Plants Monocotyledons : Lilianae (except Orchidaceae), Berlin, etc.: Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-540-64060-8, p. 304
  10. ↑ Stevens, W.D.; Ulloa Ulloa, Carmen; Pool, Amy et al., eds. (2001), "Flore de Nicaragua, Vol. 2", Missouri Bot. Gard. Monographs in Syst. Bot. (in Spanish) 85 (2) , translated at Trimezia steyermarkii (PIER species info), retrieved 2012-05-06
  11. ↑ Staples, George W. & Herbst, Derral R. (2005), A Tropical Garden Flora, Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press, ISBN 978-1-58178-039-0