Iris rossii
Iris rossii in flower in Kuboizumi, Saga City, Japan
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris subg. Limniris
Section: Iris sect. Limniris
Series: Iris ser. Chinenses
Species:
I. rossii
Binomial name
Iris rossii
Synonyms[1]
  • Iris iyoana Makino
  • Iris rossii f. alba Y.N.Lee
  • Iris rossii f. albiflora Y.X.Ma & Y.T.Zhao
  • Iris rossii var. latifolia J.K.Sim & Y.S.Kim
  • Iris rossii f. purpurascens Y.N.Lee

Iris rossii, the long-tail iris, is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Chinenses of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial from Japan, Korea and China. It has narrow, grass-like leaves, short stems and 1 or 2 purple-violet flowers.

Description

Iris rossii is similar in form to Iris ruthenica.[2]

It has slender, tough, reddish-brown, creeping rhizomes.[3][4][5] Under the rhizome, are long secondary roots growing into the soil, looking for nutrients and water.[3][4] They have the yellow-brown remnants (sheaths or fibres) of the previous seasons leaves, at the base of new leaves.[6][3][5]

It has narrow, linear leaves, acuminate (ending in a point, grass-like), that are between 4–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 0.2–0.5 cm (0–0 in) wide.[6][3][5] They have between 2–4 veins.[6] They then elongate after flowering, up to 30 cm (12 in) long.[5][7]

It has dwarf, short stems,[4][8] (or scapes) between 10–30 cm (4–12 in) long.[2][9][10] The stem has 2 or 3 lanceolate (lance-like) between 4–7 cm (2–3 in) long and 0.1–0.4 cm (0–0 in) wide, spathes (leaves of the flower bud).[6][3]

It has one or two terminal (at the top of the stem) flower,[6][3] in spring to early summer,[11] between April,[4][12] and May.[6][7]

The small flowers are 3.5–4 cm (1–2 in) in diameter,[6][3][8] and come in a range of shades of purple and violet, but there are occasionally white forms as well.[12][9][10] The white form is only found in Korea.[7]

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'.[13] The falls are obovate, 3 cm long and 0.8–1.2 cm wide, it is marked with white spots, veins or white signal area. It has a white/yellow centre section.[3][14][9] The standards are erect or slightly angled, measuring 2.5 cm long and 0.8 cm wide.[6][3]

It has a long perianth tube of 5–7 cm,[2][3] a 1 cm long pedicel, slender 1.5 cm long stamens, 1 cm long ovary and 2 cm long style branches (which are a similar colour to the petals).[6]

After the iris has flowered, it produces a globose (spherical) seed capsule between June and August.[6][4]

Biochemistry

A flower and buds of Iris rossii

In 2012, it was studied by isolating flavonoids including an anthocyanin and C-glycosylflavones, and xanthones from the flowers and leaves. After the study, a specimen of Iris rossii was given to the herbarium of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan[8]

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[13] It has been counted several times, 2n=32, Kurita, 1940,[6][14] and 2n=34, Lee, 1970.[14][9]

Taxonomy

Iris rossii is pronounced as EYE-ris ROSS-ee-eye.[11]

It is written as 小鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as xiao yuan wei in China.[6][15] In Korean script, it is written as 각시붓꽃.[16] It is known as Ehime ayame in Japan,[17] and written as えひめあやめin Japanese script.[18][19]

It has the common name of Long-tail Iris in China[15][20][21] and Korea.[22]

The Latin specific epithet rossii refers to John Ross (1842–1915), a Protestant missionary from Scotland, who lived in north-east China. John Gilbert Baker named the iris in his honour. After he had collected several specimens of the iris and sent them to Mr Baker.[3][23] It was an inhabitant of dry sloping banks in the province of Sching-king, in Northern China, where it was gathered in flower on 27 April 1876.[14]

It was then first published and described by Baker in 'The Gardeners' Chronicle' Vol.8 page 809 on 29 December 1877.[1][24] It was later published in 'Gartenflora' Vol.27 page 382 in 1878, 'La Belg. Hort.' Vol.28 page89 in 1878 and the 'Journal of the Linnean Society of London' Vol.17 p387 in 1880.[14]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003.[15]

Native

Iris rossii is native to temperate areas of Asia.[15]

Range

It is found in Japan,[4] (Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu,[5]) Korea and China (Liaoning and Manchuria,[10]).[8][9][15]

From the notes of Isabella Bird Bishop on 29 April 1894, she explored the valley either side of the River Han in Korea. She found various plants and flora, including; Acanthopanax ricinifolia, Rhus vernicifera, Actinida pueraria and Iris rossii.[25]

Originally, Iris rossii was thought to be only found in the Chinese north-eastern part, of the Korean Peninsula, but it was discovered first in Hojo within Ehime Prefecture in Japan. It was then found in other regions of Japan including; the prefectures of Saga, Oita, Miyazaki, Yamaguchi, Hiroshima and Okayama. It was also found in the woodland of Nutanishi-chō, Mihara, Hiroshima.[12]

Habitat

It grows in meadows (and grasslands) at forest margins, on sunny hillsides.[4][7][26] and clearings within pine woods.[12]

At altitudes of 100m above sea level.[6]

Conservation

Between June and November 1990, the flora of vascular plants and vegetation were studied in the protected area of Hofu City within Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, it was classified as Vulnerable (on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants) as well as Calanthe discolor.[4] [26]

In 1995, it was classified as Vulnerable. It had become a threatened species, due to plant hunting, changing of land use and habitat loss. It was found within grassland under scattered pine trees, which have been used for compost, fodder and timber production.[27]

In 2002, it was classified as Endangered (EN) in Kumamoto Prefecture in 2002.[17]

Cultivation

Iris rossii is hardy in the US and the UK, but is rare in cultivation.[10]

It likes to grow in well-drained and nutrient rich soils.[7]

It prefers positions in full sun but it is shade tolerant.[11][27]

It is also very drought-tolerant and could be suitable for xeriscaping.[4][11]

It could be planted in alpine scree slopes and in rock gardens.[4]

Propagation

Iris rossii does not like being propagated by division, as it takes a long time to re-grow feeding roots, after transplanting.[4][7]

Therefore, propagation from the seed is preferred.[4][7]

It is thought to be a zoochory plant because ants like the seeds and carry them away to new positions. Allowing the plant to form new colonies elsewhere.[4][7]

Hybrids and cultivars

Iris rossii forma Alba was found in the deciduous forests of Korea, by Dr Yong No Lee and then published in the 'Korean Journal of Botany' vol.17, No1, p33-35 in 1974. It had white flowers streaked with yellow, instead of violet, found on other forms.[4][14]

But this was later declared a synonym of Iris rossii.[1]

Toxicity

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous or toxic (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested, it can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[11][28]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Iris rossii Baker is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Dykes, William (2009). "Handbook of Garden Irises" (PDF). beardlessiris.org (The Group for Beardless Irises). Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Thema: Die Planzengattung Iris ... (Gelesen 5316 mal)". orchideenkultur.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Shimizu, Hiroshi. "Wild Iris Species in Japan". japan-iris.org. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 British Iris Society (1997) Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation&pg=PA125 pL6uPLo7l2gC, p. 125, at Google Books
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "FOC Vol. 24 Page 303". Flora of China. efloras.org. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Chapitre II iris a touffe et autre (partie1)". irisbotanique.over-blog.com. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Mizuno, Takayuki; Okuyama, Yudai; Iwashina, Tsukasa (October 2012). "Phenolic compounds from Iris rossii, and their chemotaxonomic and systematic significance". Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 44: 157–160. doi:10.1016/j.bse.2012.04.022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Cassidy, George E.; Linnegar, Sidney (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-88192-089-5.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "PlantFiles: Species Iris Iris rossii". davesgarden.com. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Iris rossii spontaneous generation southern limit zone of cultural assets – Numata west of Hiroshima". pref.hiroshima.lg.jp.e.bq.hp.transer.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  13. 1 2 Austin, Claire (2005). Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0881927306. OL 8176432M.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Franco, Alain (24 December 2014). "(SPEC) Iris rossii Baker". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "Iris rossii". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  16. ↑ Yang, Jong-Cheol; Hwang, Hee-Suk; Lee, Hye-Jeong; Jung, Su-Young; Ji, Seong-Jin; Lee, You-Mi (30 March 2014). "Distribution of vascular plants along the altitudinal gradient of Gyebangsan (Mt.) in Korea". Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 7 (1): 40–71. doi:10.1016/j.japb.2014.03.008.
  17. 1 2 "Ehime ayame". riroflower-a-z.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Index of Common Names: E". botanic.jp. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "えひめあやめ (愛媛菖蒲)". botanic.jp. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  20. ↑ "Plants with Common Names beginning with the letter "L"". zipcodezoo.com. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  21. ↑ "Iridaceae". homolaicus.com. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  22. ↑ Lee, Sangtae; Chang, Kae Sun, eds. (2015). English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. p. 499. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Retrieved 12 March 2019 – via Korea Forest Service.
  23. ↑ Ray Desmond (Editor)Of British And Irish Botantists And Horticulturalists Including Plant collectors, Flower Painters and Garden Designers (1994)&pg=PA595 thmPzIltAV8C, p. 595, at Google Books
  24. ↑ "Iris rossii Baker, Gard. Chron., n.s., 8: 809 (1877)". kew.org. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  25. ↑ Martin Uden Times Past in Korea: An Illustrated Collection of Encounters, Customs and ..., p. 120, at Google Books
  26. 1 2 Naito, Kazuaki; Nakagoshi, Nobukazu (January 1993). "Flora and Vegetation in a Protected Area for Iris rossii Baker (Iridaceae), a Threatened Plant in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture". Memoirs of the Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Series IV19: 19–37. Series IV19: 19–37.
  27. 1 2 Naito, Kazuaki; Nakagoshi, Nobukazu (December 1995). "The conservation ecology of Iris rossii Baker (Iridaceae), a threatened plant in rural Japan". Journal of Plant Research. 108 (4): 477–482. doi:10.1007/bf02344237. S2CID 22023299.
  28. ↑ David G Spoerke and Susan C. SmolinskeToxicity of Houseplants, p. 236, at Google Books

Sources

  • Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 81.
  • Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China.
  • Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994–. Flora of China
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