Iris tenuis (Clackamas iris) is a plant species in the genus Iris, subgenus Limniris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, endemic to Clackamas County, Oregon. The flowers are white, pale blue or lilac, with a yellow or golden low dissected crest and pale green leaves. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
| Clackamas iris | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Iris subg. Limniris |
| Section: | Iris sect. Lophiris |
| Species: | I. tenuis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Iris tenuis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
None known | |
Description
editIt is similar in form to Iris cristata, except that it is taller and larger.[2][3]
It has small, slender, cord-like, rhizomes,[4][5][6] which are 10–15 mm in diameter.[7] They have brown scale-like leaves on top of the rhizome.[7] The shallow rooted, creeping and spreading rhizomes,[8][9][10] that create loose colonies around 30 cm wide.[2][9][11]
It has deciduous,[2][4] narrow, pale green,[4][6][12] or dark green,[9] basal leaves.[7] They are sword-shaped,[6] they can grow up to between 30–35 cm (12–14 in) long and 1–1.5 cm (0–1 in) wide.[4][8][9] They are fan-like,[11] with brown membranous edges.[7] The leaves are taller than the stems.[6]
It has slender,[6] flowering stems that can grow up to between 30–35 cm (12–14 in) tall.[13][14][15] It has 2–3 branches.[8][10][11] The pedicel (flower stalks) are 0.4–1 cm long but they do not carry the flower clear of spathes.[7]
The stems have several spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that are 2–3 cm (1–1 in) long and 5 mm wide, and scarious (dry and membranous).[7][6]
The stems (and the branches) hold 1 flower (each branch),[7][9] in late spring,[8][9][16] between April and May.[7][12][17]
The flowers are 3–5 cm (1–2 in) in diameter,[2][4][8] and come in shades of white,[17][16][15] pale blue,[5][9][17] or pale lilac.[2][13][16]
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'.[12] The white or pale blue falls are oblong-spatulate,[6] 2.8–1 cm (1–0 in) long,[7] with violet, blue or purple veins.[3][4][6] In the centre is a yellow signal area and a low yellow or golden crest with undissected ridge.[14][17][15] The erect standards are oblanceolate-spatulate, shorter than the falls,[7][6] and notched at tip.[6][8]
It has a 3 cm long, funnel-form perianth tube, triangular-acuminate stigmas and a 0.4–0.7 cm long, elliptical ovary.[7]
It has 1.8 cm long styles,[7] that do not have notched lobes.[8]
In propagation, the pollen tubes of Iris tenax reach the Iris tenuis ovules in 30 hours, whereas the pollen tubes of Iris tenuis require 50 hours to reach the Iris tenax ovules.[18]
After the iris has flowered, it produces a globose,[7] or ovoid seed capsule,[2] which is 0.9–1.5 cm (0–1 in) long and 1.2 cm wide.[7] Inside are D-shaped, pale brown, pitted seeds, with a whitish raphe (ridge).[2][4][7]
Biochemistry
editIn 1956, a cytological (cell) study was carried out on various irises in the Californicae Section. Including Iris tenuis.[19]
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[12][clarification needed]
It has been counted several times: 2n=28, Simonet in 1934,[13] 2n=28, L.W. Lenz (Studies in Iris embryo culture, El Alsio 3 173–182 1956)[20] and 2n=28, Smith & Clark in 1956.[13]
Taxonomy
editIt is pronounced as (Iris) EYE-ris (tenuis) TEN-yoo-iss.[15]
It is commonly known as Clackamas Iris.[16][15][21][22]
The Latin specific epithet tenuis refers to the Latin for slender or thin.[23]
It was discovered in 1881, by Mr. L. F. Henderson, of Portland, Oregon, near a branch of the Clackamas River called 'Eagle Creek', about thirty miles from Portland.[6]
It was first published and described by Sereno Watson in (Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts) Vol.17 page380 in 1882.[7][22][24] It was originally placed within the Californicae Series.[3][10][12]
In May, 1884, Mr. Henderson found iris specimen roots for the Cambridge Botanic Garden in the UK. But they did not survive the following winter in the British climate.[6]
Sereno Watson published another description of the iris in Garden and Forest Weekly, Volume 1 No. 1 on 29 February 1888,[6] and in Vol.1 No.6 on 7 March 1888 with an illustration.[13]
A black and white Illustration and description appears in Volume 1 An Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States in 1923,[8] and reprinted in 1940.[25] The iris also appeared in Volume 4 on page313 in 1959.[8]
In 1937, R.C. Foster, was one of the first botanists to think that Iris tenuis is similar in form to Iris cristata.[7] In 1956, F. H. Smith and Q. D. Clarkson noted, "It clearly does not belong in the subsection with the other members of the Californicae,".[19] Due to the chromosome count of 2n=28, which is not similar to other Californicae series irises, who are normally counted as 2n=40.[13] In 1958, Clarkson created a new subsection, the Oregonae, for it. Then in 1959, Lee W. Lenz moved it into the Lophiris section.[7][12][26]
It was also published in Rickett, Wild Flowers of the US, Vol.5 plate19 in 1971.[8]
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated on 28 August 2007.[22]
Distribution and habitat
editIt is native to north western USA.[5][8][22]
Range
editIt is found in the U.S. state of Oregon.[5][22][24] Within the Cascade Mountains,[24] in Clackamas County.[12][14][16]
Found along the Clackamas River,[11][12][13] and Molalla river.[11][13]
Habitat
editIt grows in the open wooded slopes,[2][7][9] and along shaded stream banks.[2][16]
It is found underneath the Douglas fir (Pseutotsuga menziesii),[9][11][17] and other shrub undergrowth in large colonies,[2][12] in moist leafy soils.[2][7][9]
Conservation
editIris tenuis along with Aster gormanii (now called Eucephalus gormanii), douglasia laeviagata var. laevigata, Enemion hallii, lilium washingtonianum, Pleuricospora fimbriolata and Sullivantia oregana are all sensitive species recorded with the Table Rock Wilderness in Oregon.[28][29]
It grows in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon.[30]
Cultivation
editIt is cold hardy, but not heat or dry hardy.[4] It is less hardy than other crested irises and is more difficult to establish in the UK.[3][10]
It is hardy to Europe Zone H2,[8] and between USDA Zone 6 to Zone 9.[16][15]
It can grow in Marion, Multnomah, Josephine, and Washington Counties.[31]
It prefers to grow in humus rich, (leafy) well drained soils,[4][12][32] and it is tolerant of soils that are mildly acidic to neutral.[12][15]
It is tolerant of sun or partial shaded positions,[16][15][32] and it prefers to have some sun during the day to create flowers.[17]
It has average water needs, it prefers to have moisture during the growing season.[4][16][15]
If the plant is lifted up in summer or in the spring, and then re-planted in leafy soil in the shade, it will re-grow again.[6][10]
The plants should be planted 7–15 cm (3–6 in) cm apart.[15]
It can be found in most plant nurseries in the US.[4]
Propagation
editIt can also be propagated by division or by seed growing.[10][15]
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.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Iris tenuis S.Watson is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l British Iris Society (1997) A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation, p. 128, at Google Books
- ^ a b c d Cassidy, George E.; Linnegar, Sidney (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. p. 69+132. ISBN 978-0-88192-089-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kramb, D. (10 October 2004). "Iris tenuis". signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America). Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Chapter II iris clump and other (part3)". irisbotanique.over-blog.com. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Watson, Sereno. "Iris tenuis". familyseasons.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "FNA Vol. 26 Page 373, 378". efloras.org (Flora of North America). Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees and H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification (2011) , p. 257, at Google Books
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Our Native Irises: Dwarf Woodland Irises". fs.fed.us. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Dykes, William (2009). "Handbook of Garden Irises" (PDF). beardlessiris.org (The Group for Beardless Irises). Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "The non-Pacifica Western Iris". pacificcoastiris.org. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Austin, Claire (2005). Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press. ISBN 978-0881927306.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Laurin, Terry (19 September 2014). "(SPEC) Iris tenuis S. Watson". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "PlantFiles: Clackamas Iris". davesgarden.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i William Cullina The New England Wild Flower Society Guide to Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada, p. 129, at Google Books
- ^ a b c d e f "Crested Irises". pacificbulbsociety.org. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ^ Verne Grant The Origin of Adaptations&pg=PA376 Iris tenuis, p. 376, at Google Books
- ^ a b Smith, Frank H.; Clarkson, Quniton D. (October 1956). "Cytological studies in interspecific hybridization in Iris subsection Californiae". American Journal of Botany. 43 (8): 582–588. doi:10.2307/2438873. JSTOR 2438873.
- ^ "EL ALISO, Volume 3, Number 2, April 1, 1955". abebooks.com. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ Tim Johnson CRC Ethnobotany Desk Reference, p. 433, at Google Books
- ^ a b c d e "Iris tenuis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Smith, A.W.; Stearn, William T. (1972). A Gardener's Dictionary of Plant Names (Revised ed.). Cassell and Company (published 1963). p. 310. ISBN 978-0304937219.
- ^ a b c "Iris tenuis S.Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 17: 380 (1882)". kew.org. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ^ Leroy Abrams An Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States (1940) , p. 463, at Google Books
- ^ Lenz, Lee W. (1959). Iris Tenuis S. Watts., A New transfer to the Subsection Evansia. Aliso.
- ^ "Iris tenuis". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ^ United States Department of the Interior Wilderness Management Plan for the Table Rock Wilderness (Feb 1987), p. 53, at Google Books
- ^ "The Quest for Enemion Flowers at Table Rock". westerncascades.com. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ "Clackamas River Trail". wyeastblog.org. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ "CLACKAMAS IRIS". avaniplants.com. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ a b A. K. Singh Flower Crops: Cultivation and Management, p. 179, at Google Books
Sources
edit- FNA Editorial Committee. 1993–. Flora of North America.
- Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955–1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.
- Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 77.