Iris graminea

Iris graminea,is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Limniris and in the Series Spuriae. It is a rhizomatous perennial, with purple or violet blue flowers almost hidden by grass like narrow leaves, and a plum scented fragrance. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It has several common names, including Grass-Leaved Flag,Grass leaved Iris, Plum Iris and Plum tart Iris (because of the scent). This species is native to temperate areas of Central and Southern Europe. with a distribution ranging from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia to the Caucasus (mountains) in Asia.

Description

It has slender,^[2] short, hard rhizomes.^[3][4][5][6] They can have many branches creating dense tufts, clumps or tussocks of plants.^{[4][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]}

It has narrow grass-like foliage.^{[5][7][8][11][13][15][16][17][18][19][20]} They can grow up to between 30–100 cm (12–39 in) long and 0.5-1.5 cm wide.^{[5][6][8][9][10][13][16][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]}

The leaves can be shiny,^[27][29] and bright green above,^{[4][9][14][19][28][30]} and pale grey-green (or blue green) below.^[4][11] Some plants can have dark green leaves.^[31][32][33]

They have strongly, visible longitudinal veins.^[4][21][24]

The leaves are longer than the flowering stems.^{[6][9][10][14][17][21][22][25][31][33][34][35][36][37][38]}

After the plant has flowered, the foliage has the tendency to extend.^[17] Later, the deciduous foliage, dies back during the winter.^[27] ref name=botanycz/>

Iris graminea has a flattened stem,^{[4][5][10][21][22][24]} with distinct edges.^[4]

That grows up to between 10–60 cm (4–24 in) long.^{[3][4][10][6][11][12][13][14][15][17][18][19][21][22][23][25][28][29][30][33][36][37][38][39][40][41]}

The stems have 1-2 spathes (leaves of the flower bud),^[6][38] which are unequal in size.^[22][42] The lower is larger and rather leaf-like.^[22][42]

The stems hold 1-2 terminal (top of stem) flowers,^{[4][5][10][11][17][19][21][22][24][28][36][38]} blooming between spring,^[28] and summer,^{[7][9][11][15][22][28]} between May and June.^{[3][4][6][8][12][14][17][18][21][23][24][25][33][35]}

The stems are normally, unbranched,^[21] but (if they have a second flower), the pedicel, is up to 6 cm long.^[4]

The large flowers are 6–8 cm (2–3 in) in diameter,^{[7][10][11][13][17][19][31][37][38]} they are larger than Iris sintenisii flowers.^[23] They have a strong scent (or fragrance),^[11][29] which can be variously described as similar to freesias,^[26] or fruity,^[7][13][15] or smell of ripe plums,^{[5][9][16][17][19][21][25][36][40]} or apricots,^[6][33][36] or greengages^[18][35][42] or between grapes and plum tarts.^[8]

The flowers come in a range of shades, from purple,^{[8][11][14][27][33][40]} blue-violet,^{[5][7][9][12][13][16][18][35][36][38]} purple violet^[17][28] violet crimson,^{[10][21][24][31]} reddish purple,^{[5][15][19][39][40][41]} violet,^[6][22][29] lavender,^[29][30] and blue.^[6][14]

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'.^[14][19] The falls have a long haft or claw, (section closest to the stem) and a small rounded or oval blade.^{[4][5][16][38]} They are 3–5 cm (1–2 in) long.^[22] The centre of the blade has a pale yellow,^[4][9][17] or white central area,^[41] which is veined with violet,^{[9][16][17][19][22][28][36][38][39]} purple,^[4][21] or blue.^{[7][11][25][36]} Some references describe a dark purple area with white veining.^[6][14] The claw is sometimes winged, and tinged with green or brown,^[22][37][39] or veined deep reddish-purple.^[38] The erect, standards are purple blue,^[16] or purple,^{[14][17][25][36][38]} or red-violet,^[39] They are 2–5 cm (1–2 in) long,^[22] with green or brown shade at the base.^[22]

It has a long and arching,^[14] purple style branch,^{[9][17][22][38][39]} (that is long as the haft),^[16] and has a dark purple centre stripe.^[16] They have a brown base.^[37]

It has an ovary with double ridges, a 2 pointed stigma and pollen that is orange-red.^[5] It has also has a short perianth tube.^[4]

After the iris has flowered, it produces a 3–4 cm (1–2 in) long seed capsule,^[6][24] which has a narrowed point.^[24][31] Inside the capsule, are pear shaped seeds,^[4][31] which are slightly compressed and flattened.^[31]

Biochemistry

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.^[14] It has be counted several times including,2n=34, Simonet 1932; 2n=34, Lenz 1963; 2n=34, Popova, M., & I. Cesmedziev, (1975 & 1976); 2n=34, Colasante & Sauer, 1993; 2n=28, 34, 36, Lovka, 1995 and 2n=34, Dobeš et al., 1997.^[38] It is generally published as 2n=34.^{[21][39][40][43][44]}

Taxonomy

It is pronounced as (Iris) EYE-ris (graminea) gram-IN-ee-a.^[28][29]

It is known as Iris à feuilles de graminées or Iris de Bayonne in France,^[45] and Giaggiolo susino in Italy.^[46][47] It is known as kosaciec trawolistny in Polish,^[33] and Iris trávolistý in Czechoslovakia.^[6][34] and it is known as zlakovidny iris in Russia,^{[4][10][20][24][31][41][48]} and gräsiris in Swedish,(meaning grass iris).^[13][49]

The Latin specific epithet graminea refers to grassy due to the grass-like leaves.^{[16][17][21][50]}

It has common names of Grass-Leaved Flag (in the US)^[28][29] or Grass leaved Iris,^[19][38][44] Plum Iris,^[21][44][51] and Plum tart Iris,^{[14][15][27][37]} or Plum scented Iris,(because of the scent).^{[8][16][17][40]}

It was originally published and described by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum Vol.1 page39 on 1 May 1753.^[43][49][52]

It was later published by Ker-Gawler in Curtis's Botanical Magazine Vol.18 page681 in 1803.^[38] Then by B. Fedtsch in Flora of SSSR Vol.4 page529 in 1935.^[43]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003 and then updated on 1 December 2004.^[49]

Iris graminea is an accepted name by the RHS, and it gained the RHS's Award of Garden Merit.^[8][19][30]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to temperate areas of Europe,^{[2][10][14][17][19][22][24][27][31][34][36][37][38][39][41][43][44][49]} and Asia.^[49]

Range

It is widespread from Spain to Russia.^{[9][11][14][17][21][22][23][28][34][39][40]}

Within Asia, it is found in the Caucasus regions,^{[6][8][9][10][11][14][17][22][23][24][28][31][32][34][38][36][39][40][41]} of Georgia,^[49] and the Russian Federation,^[9][17][39] (in Ciscaucasia and Dagestan).^[49] Also in Turkey (in Asia Minor).^{[2][10][20][24][36][43]}

Within Europe, it is found in Austria,^[49] Bulgaria,^{[2][23][49][53]} Czechoslovakia,^[44][49] (in Moravia),^[6] Former Yugoslavia,^[49] France,^{[6][23][44][49]} Germany,^[49] Hungary,^[49] Italy,^[6][49] Poland,^[23][49] Romania,^[2][49] Spain,^{[2][6][44][49]} Switzerland,^[49] and Ukraine,^[32][44][49] (in Crimea,^{[2][14][34][40][41]}).

It may be naturalized in Moravia,^[6] and in Germany.^[21]

Habitat

It is found growing in scrubland,^{[9][10][20][23][31][34][44]} in grass lands,^{[9][21][23][44]} in meadows (or pastures),^{[6][11][13][21][34]} in open woods,^{[6][11][21][23]} and in rocky or gravelly soils of the mountains.^{[10][20][21][31]}

Conservation

Iris graminea is an 'endangered species' in Czechoslavakia,^[12][54] it is also listed as Vulnerable' in Hungary.^[6]

In Saxony, (Germany) it is listed as rare.^[44]

It is thought to be extinct in Poland. It was formerly found near Cieszyn.^[3][33]

It has been listed in various Red Data Books.^[3]

Cultivation

Iris graminea is hardy to between USDA Zones 3 to 9.^{[8][11][17][28][29][40]} It is hardy to Europe Zone H2.^[22] It can survive temperatures as low as -20oC.^[21][23] It is hardy in most places of the UK.^[30] During the winter, the foliage dies back, leaving the rhizome under the ground. In very cold climates, a mulch may help the plant survive colder temperatures.^[27]

It can be grown in normal garden conditions.^{[5][17][18][26]} They prefer neutral or slightly acidic,^{[8][12][17][25][28][29][30]} (or lime-free),^[36] well drained,^[17][27][30] and fertile (or humus rich) soils.^{[7][11][17][21][23][25][28][37]} They can tolerate dry soils,^[17][28][37] or clay and heavy soils,^[30] but it prefers damp soils.^{[7][8][12][25][37]}

They prefer positions in full sun,^[25][29][51] and can tolerate partial shade.^{[7][8][11][12][17][18][27][28][30][36][37]}

It requires adequate watering, during growth.^{[12][17][25][29]} such as a moist spring and then drier during the summer.^[18][27] Mature plants can tolerate drought periods.^[17]

It can be fertilized in early spring and after flowers have bloomed.^[17]

They can be grown in a front of a mixed border,^{[5][10][17][26]} or rockery.^{[10][12][13][17][24][25][30][32][33][36]} As well as being naturalized in the garden,^[55] they can be also grown in containers, as long as they are well watered.^[7] The flowers can be used in bouquets, so can also be grown in a cutting garden.^[16][17][35]

They do not like root disturbance,^[11][17] similar to other spuria irises.

It suffers from no serious insect or disease problems. Crown rot is an infrequently occurring disease problem. It is susceptible to certain viruses,^[17] such as bacterial leaf blight, soft rot, rhizome rot, leaf spot, rust, viruses and scorch.^[28] It is also can be susceptible to damage by Iris borer, verbina bud moth, white flies, iris weevil, thrips, slugs, snails, aphids and nematodes.^[28] It can also tolerate damage from deer.^[17] Aphid Aphis newtoni can be found on the plant.^[56]

The iris has been cultivated since at least 1568.^[21][31]

It was first grown in Cambridge Botanic Garden in 1733,^[2][34] it was labelled as narrow leafed plum scent iris.^[2]

For many years it was grown in St. Petersburg Botanical Garden,^[31] and the botanical garden of Ufa.^[24]

It is the most commonly grown, Iris spuria species,^[5][16] and can be more easily found in plants nurseries.^[21] Although it is most commonly known in Europe.^[8]

Propagation

It can also be propagated by division or by seed growing.^[5][17][29]

It rarely needs lifting and dividing.^[30] Large clumps of mature plants can be lifted between mid-summer to early autumn, then divided before being replanted.^[5][12][28] As it does not like root disturbance,^[11][17] so seed growing is preferred. If re-planted, they can take a year to 'settle' before beginning to bloom again.^[21]

Seeds are collected from the pods after flowering.^[29] Seeds are then sown in containers in a cold frame in autumn,^[28][51] or between September to May.^[12][30]

Seeds should be kept moist for about 2–4 weeks and also warm (at about 15-20 °C). Then temperatures between -4 °C and + 4 °C suspend for 4–6 weeks. These conditions are best reached at the autumn sowing outdoors. Seed trays should then be kept at temperatures of 5 °C to + 10 °C after the cooling period, for a few weeks. In the wild, these freezing and heat period) conditions take place naturally.^[51]

The plants need to grow and mature for about 2–3 years before they begin to flower.^[17][21][51]

Hybrids and Cultivars

Iris graminea has the following known varieties such as; 'Achtaroffii', 'Adami', 'Colchica', 'Graminea Lamprophylla', 'Graminea Sylvatica', 'Graminea latifolia', 'Gravenia', 'Hort's variety', 'Pseudocyperus'.^[38]

I. graminea var. pseudocyperus ranges from Czech Republic, Romania, Transylvania, and Slovakia.^[40] var. psuedocyperus has broad leaves, but no scent^[15]

References

Other sources

• Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982 Vol. III
• Aldén, B., S. Ryman & M. Hjertson. 2009. Våra kulturväxters namn - ursprung och användning. Formas, Stockholm (Handbook on Swedish cultivated and utility plants, their names and origin).
• Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR).
• Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR.
• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 112.
• Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea.

External links

• Biolib
• Iris graminea

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iris graminea.