Iris croatica

Iris croatica is a bearded rhizomatous species of iris (subgenus Iris) endemic to Croatia.

Iris croatica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris subg. Iris
Section: Iris sect. Iris
Species:
I. croatica
Binomial name
Iris croatica
I.Horvat & M.D.Horvat

Description

It has branched stems and dark violet flowers.[1] Like other irises, 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]:17 The standards are slightly paler than the falls, they have white veining on the throat. It has a beard which is whitish yellow, and the spathes are slightly tinged with red-violet, like those of Iris aphylla.[1]

Biochemistry

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[2]:18 It was counted as 4n=48 (making it a tetraploid).[3]

Taxonomy

It was described in 1962 by botanists Ivo and Marija Horvat,[4][5] in 'Acta Bot. Croatica', Issue 20–21 on page 8.[1][6] Then in 1981, Brian Mathew in his book 'The iris', reclassified it a synonym of Iris germanica.[1][7][8]

Distribution and habitat

Iris croatica is native to temperate areas of Europe.

Range

It is found in Croatia and Slovenia.[3] It grows mostly in the woods of downy oak (Quercus pubescens) and black hophornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) on dolomite and limestone soils.[4] It is known from hilly parts of continental Croatia including the hills of Samoborsko gorje (near Samobor), the hill Cesargradska gora (near Klanjec), near Josipdol, on the hill of Strahinjčica (near Radoboj), and at Zagrebačko gorje and Žumberačko gorje.[4]

It is on the Croatian list of strictly protected plants, among nine Iridaceae species.[9]

It is unofficially known as the national flower of Croatia.[10]

References
  1. Pries, Bob. "(SPEC) Iris croatica Horvat". 15 September 2016. American Iris Society. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  2. Austin, Claire (2005). Irises A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0881927306.
  3. Kramb, D. (5 September 2004). "Iris croatica". signa.org. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. Zima, Dinko; Tomašević, Mirko (January 2009). "Locality of the species Iris croatica Horvat et Horvat, M. in Požega Valley". Agronomy Journal (in Croatian). Zagreb, Croatia: Croatian society of agronomists. 70 (5): 513. ISSN 0002-1954. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  5. Horvat, Ivo; Horvat, Marija (1961–1962). "Iris croatica – nova vrsta perunike u Hrvatskoj". Acta Botanica Croatica (in Croatian). Zagreb: Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. 20/21: 7–20. ISSN 0365-0588.
  6. "Iridaceae Iris croatica Horvat & M.D.Horvat". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  7. "Iris × croatica Horvat & M.D.Horvat is a synonym of Iris × germanica L." plantlist.org. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. T. K. Lim Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 11 Modified Stems, Roots ... , p. 27, at Google Books
  9. Ministry of Culture (Croatia) (2004-07-20). "Pravilnik o skupljanju samoniklih biljaka u svrhu prerade, trgovine i drugog prometa". Narodne novine (in Croatian) (4/100). Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  10. James Minahan The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems (2 Volumes), p. 364, at Google Books
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