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Iris cypriana

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Iris cypriana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris subg. Iris
Section: Iris sect. Pogon
Species:
I. cypriana
Binomial name
Iris cypriana
Synonyms

None known

Iris cypriana is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Cyprus. It has narrow, glaucous and evergreen leaves, tall slender stem, with 2–3 branches, and 1–3 large flowers in lavender, lilac, red-lilac, to dark purple shades. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It is listed in some sources as a synonym of Iris × germanica.

Description

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It has long and horizontal rhizomes and numerous secondary roots (underneath the rhizome), they are similar in form to other bearded irises.[1]

It has 2–3 basal,[2] narrow,[3] ensiform (sword shaped),[2] glaucous and evergreen leaves.[4][5]: 31  They can grow up to 70 cm (28 in) long,[1] and between 2.5–4.8 cm (1–2 in) wide.[2] They are narrower than Iris mesopotamica leaves.[3] They are finely and irregularly ribbed.[2] The leaves, soon die after flowering,[1] then compared to Iris junonia, the leaves re-grow in autumn. They are larger enough, that during winter they can be damaged by frosts.[3]

It has a slender stem or peduncle, that can grow up to between 90–125 cm (35–49 in) tall.[6][7][8]

It has 2–3 (rarely 4,[2]) slender (slightly weak,[4]) branches (or pedicels), near top of the plant.[2][4]

The stem and branches have 2 (scarious) membranous spathes, (leaves of the flower bud).[2] They are normally up to 4–6 cm (2–2 in) long,[2][4] navicular (boat shaped),[4][6] broad and rounded.[3][4] The outer bracts are brown and paper-like,[4][9] or completely scarious.[3]

The stems (and many branches) hold between 1 and 3 flowers,[2][4] in late spring,[9] between March and May,[1] or June.[3][5]: 31  The large flowers,[5]: 31 [6][8] are 15 cm (6 in) in diameter,[9] come in various shades,[1] from lavender,[1] lilac,[7][9] red-lilac,[5]: 31 [6][8] to dark purple.[1]

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'.[5]: 17  The falls are obovate and cuneate,[6] or wedge shaped.[2][9] They are 10–12 cm (4–5 in) long and 4–4.9 cm (2–2 in) wide.[2][6] They can have green-brown,[6] or white veining on the hafts (where the petal meets the stem).[5]: 31 [8] In the centre of the petal is a thick white beard,[3] tipped with orange.[5]: 31 [6] The standards are oblong, and 7.5–9 cm (3–4 in) long,[2][6] and 4.3–6 cm (2–2 in) wide.[2][6] They are paler in colour than falls.[5]: 31 

It has style branch that is 3.9 cm long and 1.9 cm wide.[2] It has a light green,[6] perianth tube that is 2.5–3 cm (1–1 in) long.[2][9] It is longer and more slender than Iris mesopotamica.[3] It is also longer than Iris pallida.[1] It has filaments that are longer than anthers, which are 1.5 – 1.6 cm long[2] and 1.5–1.8 cm long and 0.6 cm wide ovary.[2] Iris pallida has small ovaries.[1]

After the iris has flowered, it produces an oval seed capsule, that is 11 cm (4 in) long and 3.5–4 cm (1–2 in) wide. It is triangular in cross-section, with 6 grooves or ridges. Inside the capsule, are pyriform (pear-shaped) or D-shaped seeds, that are brown and wrinkled. They can measure up to 8 mm × 5 mm (0.31 in × 0.20 in). They also germinate easily.[2]

Genetics

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In 1956, a karyotype analysis was carried out on 40 species of Iris, belonging to the subgenera Eupogoniris and Pogoniris. The 48-chromosome tall bearded species include Iris kashmiriana, Iris mesopotamica, Iris cypriana and Iris croatica, are characterized by having 4 pairs of median-constricted chromosomes, twice the number of those present in Iris pallida Heinig.[10]

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[5]: 18  Iris cypriana is a tetraploid,.[2][8][11]

It has a chromosome count: 2n=48.[1][2][7]

Note, Iris × germanica has a count of 2n=40.[12]

Taxonomy

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It is commonly known as the Cyprian Iris,[6] (under Iris × germanica).[13]

The Latin specific epithet cypriana refers to (coming from) Cyprus.[14]

It was first published and described by Foster and Baker in The Gardeners' Chronicle (Gard. Chron.) Vol.2 on page 182 in 1888 and then by Baker in 'Handbook of the Irideae' (Handb. Irid.) on page 37 in 1892.[15]

It was often confused with Iris mesopotamica and Iris trojana,[1][16] Iris trojana is now classified as a synonym of Iris × germanica.[17]

In 1927, Iris pallida and Iris variegata were thought to be parent plants in Iris × germanica. Then Mr Foster was sent plants from the Mediterranean, including Iris cypriana and Iris mesopotamica. He then started an iris breeding programme, that produced larger plants with different colours and patterns.[11]

In 1982, Brian Matthew reclassified Iris cypriana as a synonym of Iris × germanica.[6][7] Some botanists link it to Iris pallida.[1]

It has not been verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service as of 19 September 2015.

It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life as a synonym of Iris × germanica.[18]

It is also listed in The Plant List, as Iris × cypriana Foster & Baker as a synonym of Iris × germanica L.[19]

Iris cypriana is a considered an 'unchecked name' by the RHS.[20]

Distribution and habitat

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It is native to Central Europe.[1]

Range

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It is found in Cyprus,[7][8][9]<!also[2][15]-->

It is thought that it may have come from somewhere else, such as Turkey or Iraq.[2]

Habitat

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It grows on rocky grounds.[1]

Conservation

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After its re-classification, specimens in the wild have not been found.[8]

Cultivation

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It is hardy to Europe zone H2.[9] Meaning that it is hardy to −15 to-20oC (5 to −4oF).[21]

It is very difficult to grow in the UK and eastern US,[1][8] unless grown in dry sand under glass, during summer (after blooming, between July, August and September).[3] The rhizome is liable to rot in wet climates.[5]: 31 

It is best planted between August and September to get flowers the next year.[3]

Aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae can be found on the plant.[22]

Hybrids and cultivars

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Since, being introduced it has been used in many plant breeding or hybridizing programmes.[8] Robert Wallace (of Essex,[5]: 29 ) introduced many crosses (including 'Caterina', 'Crusader' and 'Lady Foster') after Dr Foster's death in 1907. As well as Iris 'Kashmir White' (in 1912).[23]

A known Iris cypriana cultivar is 'Cypriana Tarsus'.[1][6]

Known Iris cypriana crosses include; 'Ambrose Wiseman', 'Amy Brandon Thomas', 'Arac', 'Bashi – Bazouk', 'Bolinbroke', 'Caterina', 'Crusader', 'Erato', 'Halstead', 'Hamdo'llah', 'John Foster', 'Korolcyp', 'Lady Foster', 'Mareschal', 'Mother Of Pearl', 'Muriel', 'Nirvana', 'Red Embers', 'Shelford Chieftain', 'Stamboul', 'Tamerlain', 'Yolande'.[6]

  • 'Caterina' (is a cross between Iris cypriana and Iris pallida),[24] introduced in 1909,[8][25] it is tall, light lavender-violet or pale lavender,[24] flowered with a white and yellow tipped beard.[26]
  • 'Crusader' (introduced in 1913),[27] has large lavender blue flowers, on tall stems.[28]
  • 'Lady Foster', was introduced in 1913.[29]

Toxicity

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Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[30]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Chapitre I Les Iris Rhizomateux (partie 1)". irisbotanique.over-blog.com. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Kramb, D. (5 September 2004). "Iris cypriana". signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America). Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dykes, William (2009). "Handbook of Garden Irises" (PDF). beardlessiris.org (The Group for Beardless Irises). Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h British Iris Society (1997) A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation, p. 29, at Google Books
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Austin, Claire (2005). Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press. ISBN 0881927309.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Franco, Alain (13 November 2014). "(SPEC) Iris cypriana Bak. & Fos". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kelly Norris A Guide to Bearded Irises: Cultivating the Rainbow for Beginners and Enthusiasts, p. 115, at Google Books
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Stuart Max Walters (Editor) The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification (2001) , p. 340, at Google Books
  10. ^ Mitra, Jyotirmay (1956). "Karyotype analysis of bearded iris". Bot Gaz. 117 (4): 265–293. doi:10.1086/335916. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  11. ^ a b "FNA Vol. 26 Page 373, 375, 376". efloras.org (Flora of America). Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  12. ^ 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. S2CID 83329044. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  13. ^ Elaine Nowick Historical Common Names of Great Plains Plants, with Scientific Names Index (2015) , p. 221, at Google Books
  14. ^ D. Gledhill The Names of Plants, p. 132, at Google Books
  15. ^ a b "Iridaceae Iris cypriana Foster & Baker". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  16. ^ Wister, John C. "A Little Iris History, Notes on varieties grown between 1900–1920". historiciris.org. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Iris × trojana A.Kern. ex Stapf is a synonym of Iris × germanica L." theplantlist.org. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Iris cuniculiformis". eol.org. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  19. ^ "Iris × cypriana Foster & Baker is a synonym of Iris × germanica L." theplantlist.org. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  20. ^ "Iris cypriana". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  21. ^ "Plant Hardiness". theseedsite.co. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  22. ^ R. L. Blackman, Victor F. Eastop Aphids on the World's Herbaceous Plants and Shrubs, p. 553, at Google Books
  23. ^ Weber, Susanne. "From the beginnings of the iris breeding". paeonia.ch. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  24. ^ a b Stebbings, Geoff (1997). The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. p. 29. ISBN 0715305395.
  25. ^ "Tall Bearded Iris 'Caterina'". davesgarden.com. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  26. ^ "Caterina". historiciris.org. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  27. ^ "Tall Bearded Iris 'Crusader'". davesgarden.com. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  28. ^ "Crusader". historiciris.org. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  29. ^ "Tall Bearded Iris 'Lady Foster'". davesgarden.com. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  30. ^ David G Spoerke and Susan C. SmolinskeToxicity of Houseplants, p. 236, at Google Books
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