Iris benacensis

Iris benacensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Irideae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris
Section: Section Iris
Species: Iris benacensis
Binomial name
Iris benacensis
A.Kern. ex Stapf.
Synonyms

none known [1]

Iris benacensis is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Italy. It has similar sized leaves and stem, and blue-purple shaded flowers, that have a white, blue and yellow beard. It was once classified as a synonym of Iris aphylla, before being re-classified as a species in its own right, although some sources still call it a synonym. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Description

It is similar in form to Iris aphylla, but differs in flower form.[2]

It has stout and creeping rhizomes.[3]

The leaves can grow up to less than 30 cm (12 in) long.[3]

It has a slender stem, that can grow up to 30 cm (12 in) tall,[4]:120 the stem is just longer than the leaves.[3]

The stem has lanceolate spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that are tinted with purple.[3] They have (scarious) membranous tips, when the plants are in flower.[3]

The stems hold terminal (top of stem) flowers, blooming early season,[3] between May and June.[5]

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'.[6]:17 The flowers are 4–5 cm (2–2 in) in diameter, measuring from the tip of the fall to that of a standard.[3] They come in shades of blue-purple,[4]:120[3][7] The falls are narrow,[2] obovate, 8–9 cm (3–4 in) long and 3–4 cm (1–2 in) wide. It has a white section beneath the style, that is crossed with purple lines.[3] In the centre of the fall, is a dense beard of white hairs that are slightly tipped with blue in front and yellow behind.[3][2] The standards are oblong, 8–9 cm (3–4 in) long and 3–4 cm (1–2 in) wide.[3]

It has a perianth tube is 3–4 cm (1–2 in) long.[3]

It has shorter anthers than filaments, with blue pollen. It also has style arms that are 3–4 cm (1–2 in) long, with deltoid shaped crests.[3]

After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule and seeds, that have not been described.

Biochemistry

In 1956, a karyotype analysis was carried out on 40 species of Iris, belonging to the subgenera Eupogoniris and Pogoniris. It found that the 40-chromosome dwarf species, such as Iris benacensis, have in their somatic complement 16 chromosomes morphologically very similar to those of Iris pseudopumila.[8]

In 2008, a genetic and morphological study was carried out on Iris aphylla populations in Italy. Some populations (in Piemonte) were re-classified as Iris perrieri and plants labelled as Iris benacensis were not either Iris perrieri or Iris aphylla.[9]

In 2012, a study was carried out on the flora of Italy, using Ellenberg's Indicator values.[10]

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[6]:18 It has a chromosome count: 2n=40.[11]

Taxonomy

In Italy, it is known as 'Giaggiolo del Garda'.[5]

The Latin specific epithet benacensis refers to Lake Garda in northern Italy, which was known to the Romans as 'Benacus'.[12][13] It is also used by Romanogobio benacensis, a fish from Slovenia and Italy.

A specimen was collected by Anton Joseph Kerner in 1887 in south Tyrol, Italy.[2]

A herbarium specimen was collected in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, by (collector) A.J. Kerner von Marilaun.[14]

It was described by A.Kern. in Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft' in Wien Vienna, (Verh. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien) on page 649 in 1887.[3] In 1892, it was then widely published by Stapf. in 'Handbook of the Irideae' in London, (Handb. Irid.) Vol.35.[15]

It was later re-classified as a synonym of Iris aphylla,[16][17][18] by William Rickatson Dykes.[7]

It was also thought to be also included as a subspecies of Iris cengialti.[4]:146

Before being separated again as a species in its own right in 2008.[9]

It has not been verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service as of 9 September 2015.

It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life.[19]

Iris benacensis is not yet an accepted name by the RHS.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to Europe.

Range

It is found in Italy,[4] within the provinces of South Tyrol,[3][15] and Como[20]

It is also found near Lago di Garda (or Lake Garda) and Mt. Brione,[9](near the town of Riva del Garda) and Mount Cengialti.[7]

Habitat

It grows on calcareous (containing lime or chalk) rocks.[3]

They can be found at an altitude of up to1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level.[5]

Conservation

Triangolo lariano in Province of Como, Italy has a 'Flora Protected List' since 24 July 2008 on Annex C1 is Iris pallida, Iris pseudacorus and Iris sibirica. On Annex C2 is Iris benacensis and Iris graminea.[20][21]

Some specimens can be found in nature area near Largo di Gardo which includes Mount Cengialti and Mount Brione.[7]

Cultivation

It is hardy to USDA Zone 8.[5]

It needs medium to high light conditions and temperatures[10]

It is thought to be easy to grow,[3] and worthy of being cultivated (used in the garden).[22] worthy of cultivation

A herbarium specimen can be found at University of Vienna, Austria within the 'Institute for Botany'.[14]

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.[23]

References

  1. ↑ 321613 "Iris benacensis A.Kern. ex Stapf is an accepted name" Check |url= scheme (help). theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Franco, Alain (3 December 2013). "(SPEC) 'Benacensis'". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Richard Lynch The Book of the Iris (1904), p. 139-140, at Google Books
  4. 1 2 3 4 Cassidy, George E.; Linnegar, Sidney (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. p. 146. ISBN 0-88192-089-4.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Iris benacensis". luirig.altervista.org. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  6. 1 2 Austin, Claire (2005). Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press. ISBN 0881927309.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Chapman, Chuck (2 April 2005). "RE: pallida and variegata distribution". hort,net. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  8. ↑ Mitra, Jyotirmay (1956). "Karyotype analysis of bearded iris". Bot Gaz: 265–293. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Colasantea, M.; Mathew, B. (2008). "Species of natural hybrid origin and misinformation in the Irises: A reappraisal of the presence of I. aphylla L. in Italy". Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology (Societa Botanica Italiana) 142 (1): 172–178. doi:10.1080/11263500701873026. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  10. 1 2 Guarino, R.; Domina, G.; Pignatti, S. (28 December 2012). "Ellenberg's Indicator values for the Flora of Italy- first update: Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and Monocotyledoneae" (PDF). Fl. Medit 22: 197–209. doi:10.7320/FIMedit22.197. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  11. ↑ "Iris benacensis A. Kern. ex Stapf (Iridaceae)". biologia.unipi.it. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  12. ↑ Adrian S. HollisFragments of Roman Poetry C.60 BC-AD 20, p. 115, at Google Books
  13. ↑ Catherine Richards Adventure Guide to Milan and the Italian Lakes, p. 310, at Google Books
  14. 1 2 "WU - Herbarium WU - 63462". europeana.eu. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Iridaceae Iris benacensis A.Kern. ex Stapf". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  16. ↑ Stolley, Gregor. "The genus Iris in Germany". offene-naturfuehrer.de. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  17. ↑ Laurin, Terry (19 November 2014). "(SPEC) Iris aphylla L.". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Chapter I Rhizomatous Iris (part 1)". irisbotanique.over-blog.com. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  19. ↑ "Iris benacensis". eol.org. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Mountain Community Larian Triangle" (PDF). triangololariano.it. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  21. ↑ "Protection of flora in Lombardy". montagnamadeinitaly.it. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  22. ↑ John Harrison DickGarden Guide, the Amateur Gardener's Handbook (1917) at Google Books
  23. ↑ David G Spoerke and Susan C. SmolinskeToxicity of Houseplants, p. 236, at Google Books

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