Iris lactea

Iris lactea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Irideae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Limniris
Species: Iris lactea
Binomial name
Iris lactea
Pall.
Synonyms
  • Eremiris lactea (Pall.) Rodion.
  • Iris fragrans Lindl. (Illegitimate)
  • Iris haematophylla Fisch. ex Link
  • Iris lactea var. lactea (Unknown)
  • Iris longispatha Fisch. ex Sims
  • Iris moorcroftiana Wall. ex D.Don
  • Iris oxypetala C.A.Mey.(Illegitimate)
  • Iris sibirica var. haematophylla (Fisch. ex Link) Turcz.
  • Iris sibirica subsp. triflora (Balb.) Nyman
  • Iris triflora Balb.
  • Joniris fragrans Klatt
  • Joniris longispatha (Fisch. ex Sims) Klatt
  • Joniris triflora (Balb.) Klatt
  • Xiphion triflorum (Balb.) Alef.[1]

Iris lactea is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Limniris. It is also in the Iris series Ensatae, it is the only species in the series, Iris Ensate is actually in Iris series Laevigatae. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from central Asia, with pale blue or violet flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Description

Iris lactea has a thick creeping rhizome,[2][3] that is covered in reddish purple fibres.[4][5][6]

It grows to a height of between, 3–50 cm (1–18 in).[3][4][5][7] With a 10–30 cm (4–12 in) flowering stem.[8][9]

It has 2-4 flowers per stem, blooming between April and June,[2][4][5] or May and August in the UK.[9] The violet scented flowers,[10] can last for 2–3 weeks,[3] and measure about 5–7.5 cm in diameter.[2][3][5]

It has lanceolate (lance-shaped), green spathes, measuring 4.5-10 x 0.8-1.6 cm.[2][4][5]

The flowers come in a range of shades from pale blue to violet,[3][9] white[7][11] or yellow.[2][4][5] It has dark standards, delicate white falls, which are striated with blue, red-purple[8] or violet.[9]

It has flower stalks (pedicel) measure about 4–7 cm long, with a very short perianth tube (3 mm), 2.5–3.2 cm stamens and yellow anthers.[4][5][6]

The leaves are linear, mostly ribbed, greyish green, rising from the base of the plant. They are between 14–70 cm long and between 3-7mm wide.[2][4][5]

It fruits (makes seeds) between June and September (after flowering), the seed capsule is narrow and cylindrical in shape, with 6 ribs running along the side of the capsule, which ends in a beak-like point. The capsule measures 6.5–7.5 × 1–1.4 cm. The fruiting stems are unequal, ranging from 4–10 cm. Inside the capsule, are maroon-brown seeds which are pyriform.[2][4][5]

Biochemistry

In 2008, a study was carried out on the anatomical structure of the leaf and drought resistance of 4 different species of Iris (Iris songarica, Iris potaninii, Iris loczyi and Iris lactea) from Qinghai, China. It showed that all the species were strongly adaptable to drought conditions.[12]

In 2009, a karyotype analysis was carried out on 10 Irises found in China, it found the chromosome counts, including Iris lactea of 2n=40.[13]

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[9] It has a chromosome count: 2n=40, 44, 50[7][10]

Taxonomy

It is commonly known in the UK as the 'White Flowered Iris'[14] or in the US as 'Milky Iris'.[4][15] It is known as 'majiris', in Sweden.[16]

In Ladakhi of Tibet, it is known as 'Tesmamentok'.[4] Meaning pale purple flower.[17]

The Latin specific epithet Lactea means milky color.[10] Hence, common name of 'Milky Iris'.

In China, it is written as 白花马蔺 白花马蔺 in Chinese script and known as 'bai hua ma lin' in Pidgin in China.[5][16] It also known as Ma Lin or Malan flower.[18]

It was first published and described by Pallas in 'Reise Russ. Reich' (Reise durch Verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs - translated as 'Travel through various provinces of the Russian Empire') in 1776.[16][19]

The taxonomy of this species has been very confused. It was then named Iris ensata lactea (Thunberg) in 'Transactions of the Linnean Society of London' (page 328) on 1 May 1794 but later Iris ensata was re-classified as Iris kaempferi. Which is now a synonym of Iris ensata (within Iris series Laevigatae). Even Dykes in his books 'Iris Genus'(1913) and 'Handbook of Iris'(19 ) got the name incorrect and recorded it as 'Iris ensata'. Later, writers have tried to rectify the mistake. Fritz Kohlein in his book 'Iris'(1987) called it 'Iris ensata auct. non Thunberg.'[10]

Many new names were considered but finding out which name was first used and should have precedence has been difficult. So it has generally been left as Iris lactea(Pallas).[8][10]

Iris lactea is an accepted name by the RHS.[14]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 2 October 2014.[16]

Distribution and habitat

Iris lactea comes from wide range of areas. It is native to temperate and tropical regions of Asia.[16]

Range

Iris lactea in Mongolia

It is found in Afghanistan, Kashmir (including Guraiz and Himachal Pradesh),[4][6] Kazakhstan, Central Asia, India (including Ladakh),[4] Pakistan,[4] Russia (in Siberia,[3] and Primorye,[2]), Tibet, China, Mongolia to Korea.[7][8][11] In China, it is found within the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan,[13] Xinjiang and Xi-zang(Chinese Tibet).[5]

It is listed with Iris bloudowii,Iris humilis, Iris ruthenica, Iris sibirica, Iris tenuifolia and Iris tigridia as being found in the Altai-Sayan region (where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together).[20]

It is regarded as a wildflower in India and China.[4][5]

Habitat

Plant label showing wide range of distribution

Iris lactea grows in a wide range of habitats. Including steppe meadows, turf slopes,[3] heavily grazed river shore within desert steppe,[21] grasslands, roadsides,[5] grassy slopes and hillsides.[2][5]

It grows at altitudes of between 600–3800m above sea level.[2][5][6]

It flowers as late as late summer in the wild.[22]

Cultivation

Since Iris lactea, is one of the most common wild irises across all of China, living it a diverse range of habitats. It is very tolerant of most garden conditions.[10]

It is hardy to USDA Zones 3-9.[7]

It is very tolerant plant, growing in a variety of soils (including those that dry out in summer),[9][22] salty areas and can be used as a soil improver.[9][18] Such as being cultivated on slopes (to conserve water|), on high salty soils (to remove the salt) and desertification control.[18] It prefers sunny places, but can grow successfully in shady places.[3] It has a strong resistance to water logging, salinity, trampling, poor, pest and disease.[18]

It has been planted in mass on high leaded soils to reduce the lead contamination.[23]

It is suitable for cultivation in rock gardens and group planting.[3]

Propagation

It can be propagated by seed and by division.[3]

Hybrids and Cultivars

Many of the synonyms may represent distinct varieties of lactea. The following is a list of named variations botanical and horticultural;

Iris lactea has been used in hybridization for the selection of dwarf bearded irises.[3]

Known Hybrids:

Uses

It is widely grown throughout China, where it is often used as an ingredient in a herbal contraceptive.[9] It has also been used in anti-cancer drug 'Irisquinone', which comes from a herbal remedy.[24] The rhizomes are also used in traditional oriental medicine,[2][4][18] including Tibet.[25] The flowers and seeds can also be used in medicines.[18] The dried flowers can by used an ingredient to remedy diuretic laxative. The seeds are used to treat many ailments including; fever, jaundice, menorrhagia, heat pain, nausea, sore throats, vomiting, urination, carbuncles and boil problems.[26]

The leaves are used as fodder for animals, and for thatching, matting and basket work,[2][4] and its leaf fibres are also used in paper making and for brushes.[9] The flowers contain the pigment - anthocyanin.[4]

It has also been used in veterinary medicine. The consumption of the flowers and seeds is thought to increase a cow's milk yield.[27]

Culture

In Afghanistan, it has been banned by the Taliban.[28] This maybe due to it use in herbal medicines.

References

  1. ↑ "Iris lactea Pall". theplantlist.org. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Hoskovec, Ladislav. "IRIS LACTEA Pall. – White-flower Chinese Iris". botany.cz. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Iris lactea Pall.". efloras.org. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Milky Iris". flowersofindia.net. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Flora of China 24: 297–312. 2000, 1. IRIS Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 38. 1753." (pdf). flora.huh.harvard.edu. 2000. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Akhter, Chesfeeda; Khuroo, Anzar A.; Malik, Akhtar H.; Dar, G. H. (8 November 2012). "A TAXONOMIC APPRAISAL OF GENUS IRIS L. (IRIDACEAE) IN KASHMIR HIMALAYA, INDIA". academia.edu. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Kramb, D (25 September 2004). "Iris lactea". signa.org. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Cassidy, George E.; Linnegar, Sidney (1982). Growing Irises. Bromley: Christopher Helm. p. 138. ISBN 0-88192-089-4.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Austin, Claire. "Irises A Garden Encyclopedia" (pdf). worldtracker.org. pp. 274–275. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "(SPEC) Iris lactea Pallas". wiki.irises.org. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Beardless Irises Two". pacificbulbsociety.org. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  12. ↑ Wang, Jun; Gao, Yi-ke (May 2008). "Study on the Relationship between Leaf Anatomical Structure and Drought Resistance of Four Species of Iris". Heilongjiang Agricultural Sciences. Landscape Architecture College of Beijing Forestry University, Beijing. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  13. 1 2 Yu, Xiao-Fang; Zhang, Hai-Qing; Yuan, Ming; Zhou, Yong-Hong (2009). "Karyotype studies on ten Iris species (Iridaceae) from Sichuan, China" (PDF). Caryologia. 62 (3): 253–260. doi:10.1080/00087114.2004.10589690. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Iris lactea". rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer OgdenPlant Driven Design: Creating Gardens That Honor Plants, Place and Spirit, p. 114, at Google Books
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Taxon: Iris lactea Pall.". ars-grin.gov (Germplasm Resources Information Network). Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  17. ↑ Sanjeev KumarAmazing Land Ladakh: Places, People, and Culture, p. 44, at Google Books
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wen-Yuan, Wang; Xiao-Feng, Yan; Ying, Jiang; Bo, Qu; Yu-Feng, Xu (2012). "Effects of Salt Stress on Water Content and Photosynthetic Characteristics in Iris lactea Var. Chinensis Seedlings" (pdf). idosi.org (Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research). Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Iridaceae Iris lactea Pall.". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "Biodiversity of Altai-Sayan Ecoregion". bioaltai-sayan.ru. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  21. ↑ "Iris lactea Pall.". greif.uni-greifswald.de. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  22. 1 2 Stebbings, Geoff (1997). The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. p. 17. ISBN 0715305395.
  23. ↑ Amidohydrolases – Advances in Research and Application 2013 Edition&pg=PA276 Z3wmmAoFVW8C, p. 276, at Google Books
  24. ↑ Michael A. Lerner in Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary&pg=PA381 Q52wlSbFi-8C, p. 381, at Google Books
  25. ↑ Dr Barry Clark (translator) Quintessence Tantras of Tibetan Medicine MQyrBAAAQBAJ at Google Books
  26. ↑ "Extract of iris lactea seed skin as well as preparation method and purpose of extract". 12 June 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  27. ↑ Umberto Quattrocchi World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names&pg=PA2105 YC_lAgAAQBAJ, p. 2105, at Google Books
  28. ↑ "Iris lactea". plantlust.com. Retrieved 29 October 2014.

Other sources

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