Iris subg. Iris

Subgenus Iris is one subgenus of Iris. The genus was originally classified by Carl Linnaeus, but then further organised by Brian Mathew between 1981 and 1987.[1]

Iris subg. Iris
Purple bearded iris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Irideae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris subg. Iris
B.Mathew

It has been divided into six sections; bearded irises (or pogon irises), Psammiris, Oncocyclus, Regelia, Hexapogon and Pseudoregelia. Sections Oncocyclus and Regelia are also called aril irises.

Section bearded irises (or pogon irises)

This is the largest section of the subgenus. Most irises come from Southern or eastern Europe.[1] 'Pogon' refers to the Greek word for beard.[2] It has several species of iris including;

Bearded iris hybrid 'Stepping Out'

It also includes thousands of ornamental plant hybrids, which have been divided into various height categories.[3]

  • MDB – Miniature dwarf bearded
  • SDB – Standard dwarf bearded
  • IB – Intermediate bearded
  • BB – Border bearded
  • MTB – Miniature tall bearded
  • TB – Tall bearded

Psammiris

This section of irises was first described by Spach. Irises from Russia and Northwest china. Mostly rhizomatous, and flowering in late spring.[1] Psammiris is derived from the Greek word psammos for sand.[2]

Iris humilis subsp. arenaria

Oncocyclus
Iris atropurpurea from Israel

Oncocyclus irises are rhizomatous perennials. They also generally need rich soils that drain easy and are in full sun. Most also prefer a dry period after flowering.[5] The oncocyclus irises are mostly from Turkey, Caucasus and Iran. The flowers usually only have one flower,[1] which is veined or spotted.[6] Some of these species have been bred with bearded irises to create unique colours and markings.[1] Oncocyclus is a Greek word, with onco meaning mass, or bulk, and cyclus meaning circle.[7] In 1846, the term 'Oncocyclus' was first used by C.H. Siemssen as the Genus Oncocyclus in 1846 in Botanische Zeitung. Baker then re-classified it to a subgenus in 1877, than Dykes lowered it to a section in 1914, where it currently remains.[8]

Regelia
Iris hoogiana

Mostly from the mountainous regions of Iran, Afghanistan and the Altai Mountains.[9] Most irises have a stem that has 2 flowers.[1] It was named in 1904 by Robert Lynch in his book The Book of The Iris after Dr Regel.[10]

Hybrids of Regelia irises and Oncocyclus irises are known as 'Regelicyclous'.[11]

Hexapogon

Mostly from the desert area of Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan. Most irises have beards on the falls and standards.[1] Note 'hexa' refers to the number 6 and 'pogon' refers to the Greek word for beard.[2]

Pseudoregelia

Mostly from the mountainous regions of Eastern Asia. Most irises have flowers that have blotches or colour spots on.[1]

References
  1. Stebbings, Geoff (1997). The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. p. 18. ISBN 0-7153-0539-5.
  2. Stearn, William (1972). A Gardenerer's Dictionary of Plant Names. London: Cassell. p. 211. ISBN 0-304-93721-5.
  3. Morris, Jim (2011). "Bearded Iris Classifications". www.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. British Iris Society A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation, p. 60, at Google Books
  5. Christopher Brickell RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers , p. 521, at Google Books
  6. "Aril Irises". pacificbulbsociety,org. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  7. Saad, Layla; Khuri, Sawsan (4 August 2003). "Hanging in There by a Fall – The Oncocyclus Irises of Lebanon" (PDF). orbi.ulg.ac.be. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  8. Pries, Bob (11 June 2014). "Section Oncocyclus". wiki.irises.org. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  9. Cassidy, G.E.; Linnegar, S. (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-88192-089-4.
  10. "The book of the iris, by R. Irwin Lynch". www.biodiversitylibrary.org. p. 116. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  11. Christopher Brickell RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers, p. 610, at Google Books
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