Iris kirkwoodiae (or Iris kirkwoodii) is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Syria and Turkey. It has white or pale greenish flowers, heavily covered with dark purple veins or dots, deep purple round signal and a beard of long brown/purple hairs. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
| Iris kirkwoodiae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Iris subg. Iris |
| Section: | Iris sect. Oncocyclus |
| Species: | I. kirkwoodiae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Iris kirkwoodiae | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
editThe forms of Iris kirkwoodiae are between Iris gatesii and the also dark-veined Iris sofarana.[2][3] It is also very similar in form to Iris susiana.[4]
It has a stout and compact rhizome,[2] which is stoloniferous and between 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) long, underneath the rhizome are long secondary roots, which help feed the plant mineral salts from the soil.[5]
It has 6-7 leaves, which grow up 30 cm (12 in) tall and between 0.5–2 cm (0.20–0.79 in) wide,[2][5] They are falcate,[2] or sickle shaped.[5]
It is tall,[6] growing up to between 30–75 cm (12–30 in) tall.[7][3][8]
It blooms between April and May,[2][9][5] with large,[5][3][10] sphere-like flowers.[6] It was determined that the plants found in Maras, Turkey seem to have the largest flowered forms.[2] It has a faint pleasant scent.[5]
The flowers are between 13–18 cm (5.1–7.1 in) in diameter,[2][5] and come in shades of beige,[5] white or pale greenish ground,[3][8][7] which is covered with violet,[3] or dark purple veins and spots.[2][9]
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'.[11]: 17 The standards are generally paler than the falls.[2] The standards are 7–10.5 cm (2.8–4.1 in) long and are 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) wide. The deflexed falls,[3] have a deep purple round or obovate signal patch,[2][8] and in the centre of the fall, is a sparse,[2] purple or brownish-purple beard.[7][8] Occasionally forms have a red-brown or yellow beard.[2]
It has style arms which have erect or reflexed lobes.[2]
After it has flowered, it produces a seed capsule that is about 9 cm (3.5 in) long.[2]
Genetics
editAs most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[11]: 18 It was counted as 2n=20,[5][7] by Avishai and Zohary in 1977.[6]
Taxonomy
editIt is known as Maras kurtkulağı in Turkish.[9][12] and it is written in Hebrew as איריס קירקווד .[13]
Specimens of the iris were collected by E. K. Balls and also by S. Albury, M. Cheese, and J. Watson in 1966, from Bishmishly, Northern Syria and Amanus Mountains, Turkey.[8] It was then originally described and published as Iris kirkwoodii in 'Botaniska Notiser', Vol.125 Issue 4 on page 499 in 1972.[1][8][14]
The specific epithet kirkwoodii, refers to Mrs Grace Kirkwood. A botanist along with Shaukat A. Chaudhary and Carolyne Weymouth first published and described other 'Section Oncocyclus' irises Iris assadiana and Iris swensoniana. With the standard form of G.Kirkw.[15] It was later published in Davis, P.H. (ed.) (1984). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands 8: 381–450. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.[8]
The spelling of the iris was corrected in accordance with Melbourne ICN Art. 60.12 and Rec. 60C.1(b) in 2011 to Iris kirkwoodiae, because Grace Kirkwood was a woman but much of the older published literature has the old spelling as I. Kirkwoodii.[8][14][16][17]
Iris kirkwoodiae was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated 21 May 2013.[17] Although Iris kirkwoodiiis listed in the RHS Plant Finder 2017 and it is a tentatively accepted name.[18]
In February 2016, several 'Section Oncocyclus' irises Iris paradoxa, Iris iberica, Iris barnumiae, I. kirkwoodiae, Iris sofarana were resolved as monophyletic.[6]
It has 2 synonyms that are often called subspecies of Iris kirkwoodiae; Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. calcarea,[6][19][20] (or Iris calcerea,[21]) and Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. macrotepala.[5] Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. macrotepala is sometimes referred to as a variety, such as Iris kirkwoodiae var. macrotepala. Having longer leaves and slightly different flowers,[2][7] it was also published in 1976 in 'Bot. Not.' Vol.128:[8]
Distribution and habitat
editIris kirkwoodii is native to temperate areas of western Asia.[17][14]
Range
editIt is found in Syria,[6][9][14] (near Aleppo,[10][3] Bismishly and el Bara,[2]) Turkey,[17][5][22] (within the districts of Maras,[9][23] Gazintep and Hatay,[2][9]) and Lebanon.[14]
Habitat
editIt grows on the limestone rocks,[3][10] and stones,[2] and between cultivated fields.[3] It is normally found at 750–1,700 m (2,460–5,580 ft) above sea level.[2]
Conservation
editThe plant is considered 'rare,[5] as its natural habitat on Mount Ahır is threatened with destruction, due to the construction of houses and associated effects, road construction and the alteration to vineyards and gardens.[9]
Cultivation
editIt likes to grow in rocky soils, which stay dry in summer.[5]
Hybrids and cultivars
editIris kirkwoodii has several known crosses, such as: 'Code Of Silence', 'Delicate Embroidery', 'Diamond Tiara',[24] 'Engraved Invitation' (I. calcarea x I. yebrudii v. edgecombii),[25] 'Known Only To Him', 'Prim And Proper'.[8]
Toxicity
editLike 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.[26]
References
edit- ^ a b "Iris kirkwoodiae Chaudhary is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s British Iris Society (1997) A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation, p. 79, at Google Books
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Iris kirkwoodii kirkwoodii JJA.590.256". rareplants.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ "Iris kirkwoodiae". blogspot.co.uk. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Chapter I (Part 5) Oncocyclus II" (in French). irisbotanique.over-blog.com. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Wilson, Carol A.; Padiernos, Justin; Sapir, Yuval (February 2016). "The royal irises (Iris subg. Iris sect. Oncocyclus): Plastid and low-copy nuclear data contribute to an understanding of their phylogenetic relationships". Taxon. 65 (1): 35–46. doi:10.12705/651.3. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Pries, Bob (26 August 2016). "(SPEC) Iris kirkwoodiae Chaud". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g "PROJECT FOR MARAŞ KURTKULAĞI" (in Turkish). marasposta.com. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Basak Gardner & Chris Gardner Flora of the Silk Road: The Complete Illustrated Guide, p. 201, at Google Books
- ^ a b Austin, Claire (2005). Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-730-9.
- ^ "NEWS Maras Kurtkulağı News". marastanhaber.com.tr. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Iris kirkwoodiae - איריס קירקווד". jbg.gardenexplorer.org. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Iridaceae Iris kirkwoodiae Chaudhary". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ "Kirkwood, Grace (fl. 1975)". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ "Aril Irises". pacificbulbsociety.org. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Iris kirkwoodiae". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ "Iris kirkwoodii". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Iris kirkwoodii calcarea". rareplants.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ Achilles, H. "Iris kirkwoodiae spp. calcarea". 11 May 2007. signa.org. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ Tabbaa, Dr. Darem. "Syrian Iris Flowers for the celebration of the International Day for Biodiversity 2009" (PDF). cbd.int. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Conserving wild plants and habitats for people in the South and East Mediterranean (IPA-Med)". rubiconfoundation.org. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ "Plant love in Turkey: from field monitoring to handcrafts design". uicnmed.org. August 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ Pries, Bob (24 April 2017). "(AR) 'Diamond Tiara'". American Iris Society. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ McAllister, Sharon. "(AB) 'Engraved Invitation'". 25 March 2017. American Iris Society. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ David G Spoerke and Susan C. Smolinske Toxicity of Houseplants, p. 236, at Google Books
Other sources
edit- Davis, P. H., ed. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. 1965-1988 (F Turk)
- Mathew, B. The Iris. 1981 (Iris) 53–54.
External links
edit- Has an image of the Iris kirkwoodii flower
- Has several images of the Iris kirkwoodii flower (in Turkish)
Data related to Iris kirkwoodiae at Wikispecies