Iris swensoniana

Iris swensoniana is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Oncocyclus section. It grows in the deserts of Syria. It has blue-green curved leaves, tall stems holding purple-black or purple blooms with a yellow beard and maroon-black signal patch.

Iris swensoniana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Monocots
Order:
Asparagales
Family:
Iridaceae
Subfamily:
Iridoideae
Tribe:
Irideae
Genus:
Iris
Species:
I. swensoniana
Binomial name
Iris swensoniana
(Chaudhary), G.Kirkw. & C.Weymouth
Synonyms

None known[1]

Description

Iris swensoniana has very small rhizomes.[2][3]

The plant can reach up to 20–45 cm (8–18 in) tall,[2][3] normally about 40cm.[4][5] It has falcate (meaning cutlass-shaped) or very curved leaves,[3] that are blue-green in colour.[2]

It has blooms which are 7–8 cm (3–3 in) in diameter.[2][3]

Like other irises, it has two pairs of petals: three large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls', and three inner, smaller petals (or tepals), known as the 'standards'.[6] The upright standards are paler than the falls,[2] in shades of light purple,[5] or purple.[4] The drooping falls are blackish purple,[3][4][5] and in the middle of the petal is a signal patch which is even darker,[4] in shades of dark maroon-black.[4][5] The middle fall also has a row of tiny hairs called 'the beard' which are yellow tipped with purple,[4][5] or black-purple.[2]

After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule that has not been recorded.

Taxonomy

The Latin specific epithet swensoniana may refer to Swedish botanist Ulf Swenson (1959-) who has published around 153 botanic names.[7]

It was found in 1975, in Tell Chahan area of Syria),[4] and it was first published and described by Shaukat Chaudhary, Grace Kirkwood and Carolyne Weymouth in Botaniska Notiser (Bot. Not.), Vol.128 (Issue 4) on page 406 (written in 1975 then published in 1976).[1][8][9]

It was verified as Iris swensoniana by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003 and then changed on 3 December 2004.[8]

Some sources claim that Iris barnumae var. zenobiae is a synonym of I. swensoniana,[2][5] others including state that I. barnumae var. zenobiae is a synonym of Iris assadiana, another Syrian desert iris with dark flowers published by the same 3 authors.[10]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to temperate Asia.[8]

Range

It is found in Syria.[3][9][11]

Habitat

It grows in the desert.[2][3]

Cultivation

It is thought to be quite difficult to cultivate, as it needs a fertile compost (with enough nutrients to form blooms) but with good drainage and water (enough to survive) but not too much to rot.[2]

Toxicity

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (including 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.[12]

References
  1. "Iris swensoniana Chaudhary, G.Kirkw. & C.Weymouth — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. "Iris swensoniana – RarePlants". www.rareplants.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  3. Dominguez, Rafael Diez (9 August 2007). "Iris swensoniana". (Species Iris Group of North America) signa.org. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  4. Pries, Bob (30 August 2016). "(SPEC) Iris swensoniana Chaud.Kirkw.& Weym". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  5. "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  6. Austin, Claire (2005). Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press. ISBN 978-0881927306.
  7. "Swenson, Ulf | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  8. "Taxon: Iris swensoniana Chaudhary et al". ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. "Iris swensoniana | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  10. "Iris assadiana Chaudhary, G.Kirkw. & C.Weymouth is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  11. AlHolani, A. "Written Paper [Descriptive and Malecular Studies of Wild Iris Species in the Syrian Flora] [2012]". Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  12. David G Spoerke and Susan C. Smolinske Toxicity of Houseplants , p. 236, at Google Books

Other sources
  • Mathew, B. The Iris. 1981 (Iris) 60.

Data related to Iris swensoniana at Wikispecies

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