Iris arenaria

Iris arenaria (sand iris) is a species in the genus Iris; it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Psammiris section. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Central Europe, found in Hungary, Austria, Romania, Czech Republic and Ukraine. It has grass-like leaves, a short stem and pale yellow flowers. It has had a mixed origin and was once Iris humilis subsp. arenaria, a subspecies of Iris humilis (another Psammiris iris), until it was reclassified as a separate species. But many sources still state that it is either a synonym or subspecies of Iris humilis. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Iris arenaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris subg. Iris
Section: Iris sect. Psammiris
Species:
I. arenaria
Binomial name
Iris arenaria
Synonyms[1]
  • Iris arenaria subsp. borzaeana Prodán
  • Iris arenaria subsp. orientalis Lavr.
  • Iris arenaria f. phyllospatha Borbás
  • Iris borzaeana (Prodán) Prodán
  • Iris flavissima f. orientalis Ugr.
  • Iris flavissima subsp. orientalis (Ugr.) Lavranos
  • Iris humilis subsp. arenaria (Waldst. & Kit.) Á.Löve & D.Löve
  • Iris humilis var. borzaeana (Prodán) Soó
  • Iris humilis subsp. orientalis (Ugr.) Soó
  • Iris humilis f. phyllospatha (Borbás) Soó
  • Iris pineticola Klokov

Description

It is similar in form to Iris pumila, but differs by being smaller in all parts.[2]

It has a long, thin rhizome,[3][4][5] which is about 2–5 mm thick.[6] Which has many thickened branched nobes.[2][5] These creeping branched rhizomes make clumps of plants.[4][7][8] The rhizome has the remains of last seasons leaves.[4]

It has long, thin and flat leaves, that are 5–32 cm (2–13 in) long and 1.5-10mm wide.[5][6][9]

It has an erect, simple, unbranched and green stem, that grows up to between 5–25 cm (2–10 in) tall.[6][9][10]

The stems have 1–2 spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which are green, lanceolate and (scarious) membranous. They are 2–3.5 cm wide.[5][6][9]

They have short, 6mm long pedicels (flower stalk).[5][9]

The stems hold between 1 and 2 flowers,[6][9][11] in spring,[7] between April and May.[7][10][11]

The flowers have a very short flowering period,[8] that only last one day,[3][11] it opens in the morning and then closes in the afternoon.[7]

The fragrant flowers,[2][10] are vanilla scented,[11] and come in shades of yellow,[3][4][11] between light yellow,[2][12] and pale yellow,[6][9][10] to bright yellow.[8]

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'.[2][4][13] The falls are sub-orbicular, and 30–35 mm (1–1 in) long,[3][5][9] and 1.3 cm wide.[2] They have purple veins,[3][4][9] and an orange,[3][8] or deep yellow beard.[2] The standards are narrow, oblanceolate, with a short claw (section closest to the stem).[3][9] They are 27–33 mm (1–1 in) long,[3] with darker veins.[2][4][9]

It has a perianth tube that is hypanthial (cup shaped) or infundibuliform (funnel shaped) and 5-12mm,[6][9] and 3 cornered oblong ovary.[2]

After the iris has flowered, in July–September,[5] it produces an oblong or fusiform (spindle shaped) seed capsule.[4][6] The capsules dehisce (split open), laterally (similar to Iris korolkowii).[14] Inside the capsules, are brown, ovoid,[6] globose or pyriform seeds.[9] which have a circular aril.[3]

Biochemistry

As most iries are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[13] It has a chromosome count: 2n=22, (Dobeš et al.) in 1997.[15][16][17]

Taxonomy

It is commonly known as sand iris,[8][15][18][19] or sandy iris[3][4][20] or rock sand iris (of Iris humilis subsp. arenaria),[7][21][22] or 'Hungarian Sand Flag'.[2]

The Latin specific epithet arenaria refers to sand, hence growing in sandy places.[23]

It was first published and described by Franz de Paula Adam von Waldstein and Pál Kitaibel in 'Descriptiones et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae' (Descr. Icon. Pl. Hung.) Vol.1 table57, between (1799 and 1802).[24]

In 1961, Á. Löve & D. Löve reclassified it as Iris humilis subsp. arenaria in 'Bot. Not.' Vol. 114 page 51. [25][26][27]

In 2013, Barker & Govaerts created the "World check-list of selected plant families" from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, which lists Iris arenaria (Waldstein & Kitaibel in 1802) and Iris humilis (Georgi, 1775) as two separate species.[15][28]

It is also listed in 'Atlas of Seeds and Fruits of Central and East-European Flora: The Carpathian Mountains Region' as Iris arenaria.[29]

It has not been verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service as of 28 April 2015.

As of 29 April 2015, Iris arenaria is still described as a synonym of Iris humilis by the RHS.[30]

Distribution and habitat
Iris arenaria in Austria

Iris arenaria is native to central and eastern Europe.[3][10][11]

Range

It is found in Hungary,[22][24][31] (including Kiskunság,[19]) Austria,[7][9][15] Romania,[6][7][9] Czech Republic,[9][15][17] Slovakia,[6][7][17] and Ukraine.[5][6][7]

It is commonly found on Pannonian steppe,[3][18] (within Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia).[7]

Habitat

It grows on the sunny rock steppes,[7] and on stony slopes, from lowlands to highlands.[3][6]

In Ukraine, it is found in the (pine) forest steppes beside Seversky Donets (river), on the sandy riversides and in sand dunes.[5] In the Czech Republic, it is found in the sand dunes of Čenkov (within a national nature reserve).[16] It is also in the dunes of Romania.[27]

It likes shallow and sandy soils.[2][7]

Conservation

It is listed in Annex II of the FFH Directive (Flora, Fauna, Habitat) of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, with Adenophora liliifolia, Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Angelica palustris, Cirsium brachycephalum , Iris aphylla subsp. hungarica and Pulsatilla pratensis ssp. hungarica.[32]

Iris arenaria is listed as 'endangered species'.[3][6] In Ukraine, it is listed as 'vulnerable'.[5] In Romania, it is listed as 'rare'.[27] In Czech Republic, it is listed as endangered as well.[33]

It is threatened by extensive grazing of sheep and goats,[5][7] also sand extraction and urban development.[5]

It is protected in Czech Republic,(7 of 8 populations are located with reserves),[33] Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia.[3][6]

Within Hungary, it is thought to be a 'Plant Species Of Community Importance', with 'Sand saffron' (Colchicum arenarium).[22]

Cultivation
Iris arenaria in Czech Republic

It is hardy plant, more hardy than Iris humilis.[2][10][31] It may need to be sheltered in the winter.[2]

It prefers to grow in sandy, well drained soils,[8][10][11] with lime.[11]

It likes positions in full sun.[10][11]

It can be grown as rock garden or alpine plant.[8]

It is rarely grown in the UK.[8]

Propagation

It can be propagated by division or by seed growing.[5][7][8][14]

To grow new plants by seed, the seed capsule should be removed from the stem, before it is ripe. Then it should be left to dry for a few days, before removing the seed (from the capsule) and sowing in trays or pots.[14]

The seedlings need to grow for a year or two, before maturing enough for the plants to flower.[8]

References
  1. "Iris arenaria Waldst. & Kit. is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  2. Sydenham Teast Edwards and John Lindley The Botanical Register: Consisting of Coloured Figures of Exotic Plants Cultivated in British Gardens with Their History and Mode Of Treatment, Volume 7 (1821), p. 125, at Google Books
  3. Kovar, Ladislav (8 January 2014). "Iris arenaria". botany.cz. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  4. "Sandy Iris (Iris arenaria)". agbina.com. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  5. "Borovo Irises Iris pineticola Klokov (I. flavissima Pall. Subsp. Stolonifera f. Orientalis Ugr., I. arenaria Waldst. Et Kit. Subsp. Orientalis (Ugr.) Lavrenko, I. humilis Georgi subsp. Orientalis (Ugr.) Soó)". redbook-ua.org. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  6. "Iris arenaria W. et K. – iris sand". salvia-os.cz. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  7. "rock sand iris (Iris humilis subsp. arenaria)". biomonitoring.cz. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  8. Dykes, William. "Dykes on Iris" (PDF). beardlessiris.org (The Group for Beardless Irises). Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  9. Thomas Gaskell Tutin (Editor)Flora Europaea, Volume 5, p. 89, at Google Books
  10. "Sand Iris". syringa-pflanzen.de. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  11. Elizabeth Lawrence, Nancy Sanders Goodwin and Allen Lacy A Rock Garden in the South, p. 216, at Google Books
  12. Laurin, Terry (8 September 2014). "(SPEC) Iris arenaria Waldstein & Kitaibel ('Arenaria')". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  13. Austin, Claire (2005). Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press. ISBN 0881927309.
  14. Farmers' Bulletin, Issues 1401–1425, p. 34, at Google Books
  15. "The genus Iris in Germany (Gregor Stolley)". offene-naturfuehrer.de. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  16. "detail No .: 2140". chromosomes.sav.sk. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  17. Krahulcová, Anna (2003). "Chromosome numbers in selected monocotyledons (Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia)" (PDF). Preslia, Praha. 75: 97–113. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  18. "flora". pusztaitolgyesek.hu. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  19. "Natural vegetation of the sand ridges in the Kiskunsag area". sulinet.hu. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  20. "Iris arenaria". plantanaturalis.com. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  21. "rock sand iris". cittadella.cz. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  22. "WILDLIFE". turjanvidek.hun. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  23. Smith, A.W.; Stearn, William T. (1972). A Gardener's Dictionary of Plant Names (Revised ed.). Cassell and Company (published 1963). p. 43. ISBN 0304937215.
  24. "IIridaceae Iris arenaria Waldst. & Kit". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  25. "Iris humilis subsp. arenaria (Waldst. & Kit.) Á.Löve & D.Löve is a synonym of Iris humilis Georgi". plantlist.org. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  26. "Publication details". munzi.cz. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  27. Oprea, Adriana; Ardelean, Aurel (March 2009). "Researches Regarding The Species Of Plants From The Sands In The North-West Of Romania". Studia Universitatis "Vasile Goldiş", Seria Ştiințele Vieţii. Vasile Goldis University Press. 19 (1): 199–202. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  28. "taxon:351429". kew.org. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  29. Vít Bojňanský and Agáta Fargašová Atlas of Seeds and Fruits of Central and East-European Flora: The Carpathian Mountains Region, p. 1002, at Google Books
  30. "Iris arenaria". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  31. Cassidy, George E.; Linnegar, Sidney (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. p. 125. ISBN 0-88192-089-4.
  32. Papp, Cristian-Remus (2008). "Feasibility check of the designation of a Transboundary Protected Area between Romania and Hungary (the example of Carei Plain and Bátorliget), MPA Thesis,University of Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt" (PDF). mpa.e-c-o.at. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  33. Grulich, Vít (2012). "Red List of vascular plants of the Czech Republic: 3rd edition" (PDF). Preslia. 84: 631–645. Retrieved 3 September 2015.

Sources
  • Annals of Horticulture and Year book of Information on Practical Gardening for 1847. (mentions Sand Iris)
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