Iris bloudowii

It is similar in form to Iris humilis (another Psammiris species).[2]

It has a thick, short, irregularly shaped, fibrous rhizome.[3][4][5] They are 0.5–1.5 cm (0–1 in) in diameter.[6] Under the rhizome, are numerous yellow-white, secondary roots.[5][7] On top of the rhizome, are the brown, fibrous remains of old leaves.[3][4][8] The rhizome has many branches, creating a slowly, creeping plant.[3][9]

It has 2–4,[4] linear,[5][6][9] or lanceolate,[4][9] or sword-shaped basal leaves,[3][5][7] They are slightly curved or sickle-shaped.[3][4][7] They appear in spring, as broad, brown shoots,[10] before turning greyish green,[3][5][8] or light green,[11] they can grow up to between 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long and 4–8 mm wide, at blooming time.[3][7] Later, they extend up to between 15–25 cm (6–10 in) long and 8–13 mm wide.[6][7][10] They have 5–6 longitudinal veins, but no central mid-vein.[3][7][12] The leaves are deciduous, and die away after flowering.[5][10]

It has a slender, erect stem, that can reach up to between 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long.[3][7] After flowering, the stem extends up to 35 cm (14 in) long.[13][14][15] It is not branched and carries the flowers above the foliage.[2][7]

The stem has 2 or 3, keeled, oblong-lanceolate, reddish purple, membranous, spathes or bracts (leaves of the flower bud).[9][10] They are 4 cm (2 in) long and 1.6–2 cm wide.[3][7][10]

The stems hold 2 terminal (top of stem) flowers,[12][13][16] blooming in late spring,[17] between April and May,[5][11] or June (in Russia).[4] The flowers are held on pedicels (stalks) that are 0.5–2 cm long.[2][3][7]

The flowers are 5–6 cm (2–2 in) in diameter,[6][7] come in shades of yellow,[15][16][17] from bright yellow,[2][10][18] to clear yellow,[7][13] to dark yellow.[5][12]

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'.[19] The falls are obovate,[3][4][7] or ovate,[9] with purple or brown veins,[12][13][14] leading to the haft (the section closest to the stem),[2] and have a central yellow,[5][12][14] or golden beard.[7][13] They are 4 cm long and 2 cm wide.[3][7] The upright standards are oblanceolate and 3–4.5 cm long and 1-1.2 cm wide.[3][7] They are narrower and shorter than the falls.[9]

It has a 1–1.5 cm long perianth tube,[2][3][7] which is equal in length to the green, spindle-shaped,[7] ovary.[3][4] The ovary also has 6 purple stripes.[2] The plant also has 1.8–2.2 cm (1–1 in) long stamens,[3][7] and bright yellow style branches that are flat and 2.5 cm long.[3][7]

After the iris has flowered, between June and August,[3][4][7] it produces an oval or ovoid seed capsule,[3] on a 1–1.2 cm long stalk.[4][7] Inside are dark brown, ellipsoid or oval seeds, which are 5 mm long and 3 mm wide.[3][4][7] They are wrinkled and have a white aril (appendage).[3][4][7]

It has the common names of 'Bludov iris' or 'Bludova iris' (in Russia).[11][15][23] It was also known as 'Blondow's Iris',[24] due to a spelling translation mistake.

It is written as 中亚鸢尾 in Chinese script,[3] and known as zhong ya yuan wei in Pidgin in China.[3][25] 'Zhong ya yuan wei' is translated into English as 'central Asian iris',[25] or 'central iris'.[7]

The Latin specific epithet bloudowii refers to von Bloudow, (or Count Dmitri N. Bludova, 1785 – 1864,[26]) a former President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, founded in Saint Petersburg.[10]

It was first published and described by Carl Friedrich von Ledebour in 'Icones Plantarum' (Icon. Pl.) Vol.2 on page 5 in 1830.[27][28][29]

The type specimen for description was collected from the Altai Mountains.[7][29]

It was also published in 'Flora Altaica', Volume 4 on page 331 in 1833.[2][25][30] Then in February 2007, Brian Mathew, published an article in Curtis's Botanical Magazine Volume 24, Issue 1, pages 30–33.[31]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 2 October 2014.[25]

Iris bloudowii is an accepted name by the RHS.[32]

Iris bloudowii is native to temperate regions of central Asia.[25][28][32]

It is hardy to between USDA Zone 4 to Zone 9.[18]

It is very cold hardy but prefers dry winter conditions.[2]

It prefers to be grown in well-drained, light sandy soils.[2][6] It can grow in gravelly soils.[16]

It can tolerate mildly acidic or mildly alkaline soils (PH levels between 6.1 and 7.8).[18][16]

It can tolerate positions in full sun.[2][18]

It has average water needs during the growing season,[18] but it should be kept dry during the winter.[2][13]

In the UK, it is best grown in a covered frame,[10][13] but it can grown in the open in Russia.[4] It is rare in cultivation in the UK.[17]

It is grown in rock gardens.[16]

It has been grown in Russia since 1829. It was tested in botanical gardens of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Chita and Barnaul.[4][16][29]

Aphis newtoni Theobald can be found on Iris bloudowii, Iris latifolia, Iris spuria and Tigridia pavonia.[37]

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also, handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[18]

• Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR).
• Khassanov, F. O. & N. Rakhimova. 2012. Taxonomic revision of the genus Iris L. (Iridaceae Juss.) for the flora of Central Asia. Stapfia 97:177.
• Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR. [lists as I. bloudowi Bunge].
• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 39.
• Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China.

• Two photos of Iris bloudowii in flower in the Altai Mountains
• Data related to Iris bloudowii at Wikispecies