Iris caucasica
Iris caucasica (also known as Caucasian iris)[2][3] is a species of plant in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Scorpiris. Pronounced as 'kaw-KAS-ee-kuh'.[4]
| Iris caucasica | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Iris subg. Scorpiris |
| Section: | Iris sect. Scorpiris |
| Species: | I. caucasica |
| Binomial name | |
| Iris caucasica | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
It was described in 'Commentat. Soc. Phys.' to Caesareae Universitatis Mosquensis of 1808 by Georg Hoffman.[5]
It was once confused with iris orchioides, but iris caucasica is a smaller plant, with sessile flowers. Also it has leaves that have white margins.[6]
Habit
It has a brown ovoid bulb with fleshy roots.[6] It is similar in form to Iris persica.[3]
It has grey green leaves,[7] which are ciliate[8] and that start growing at flowering time.[9] They reach up to 10–12 cm long and l-2 cm wide.[8] The leaves have a faint white margin.[10]
It has between 1–4 flowers per stem, normally pale yellow or green and with winged falls.[9] The falls also have a yellow ridge.[7] The flowers are 5–15 cm (2–6 in) across.[9] It flowers in late spring.[8] It eventually reaches a height of 15 cm (flower and stem).[8] The flowers are not fragrant.[6]
Native
Iris caucasica grows on limestone mountain slopes (at 1200-3500m above sea level)[8] in Turkey[7] and Armenia and Azerbaijan,[11] in the Caucasus mountains.[7] Bieberstein notes seeing it near Tbilisi in the South Caucasus.[3] It has also been found in Israel and Iran.[10]
Hybrids
In 1892, Michael Foster introduced a hybrid version Iris Caucasica 'Kharput'.[4] Which does not have winged falls.[9] It still has 4–5 flowers per stem, which are greenish-yellow. But they are generally larger than parent plant.[6]
Uses
Iris caucasica (or Sarı nevroz, a local name of Ovacık, Dersim) has been used a folk medicinal plant in Turkey. The flowers have been used in an infusion to treat colds.[12]
References
- "Iris caucasica Hoffm". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- "Iris caucasica". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- Robert Sweet, Edwin Dalton Smith (1904)The British Flower Garden: Containing Coloured Figures & Descriptions of the Most Ornamental & Curious Hardy Herbaceous Plants (1829), p. 255, at Google Books
- "Iris caucasica 'Caucasica Kharput'". davesgarden.com. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- "Iris caucasica Hoffm". apps.kew.org. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- Lynch, Richard (1904) The Book of the Iris, p. 176, at Google Books
- "JunoIrises". www.pacificbulbsociety.org. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- "Iris caucasica". encyclopaedia.alpinegardensociety.net. 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- Cassidy, G.E.; Linnegar, S. (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. p. 146. ISBN 0-88192-089-4.
- "Iris - Caucasus Yellow,Caucasus Yellow Iris". www.searchlifeforms.com. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- "Iris caucasica". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- Tuzlac, Ertan; Doùan, Ahmet (2010). "Turkish folk medicinal plants, IX: Ovac×k (Tunceli)". Marmara Pharmaceutical Journal. 14: 136–143. doi:10.12991/201014449.
Sources
- Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR). (L USSR) [noted as 'Juno caucasica' (Hoffm.) Klatt].
- Davis, P. H., ed. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. (F Turk)
- Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR. (F USSR)
- Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. (Iris) 146.
- Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963–. Flora iranica. (F Iran)
- Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966–. Flora of Iraq. (F Iraq)
External links
Media related to Iris caucasica at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Iris caucasica at Wikispecies