| Iris adriatica | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Tribe: | |
| Genus: | |
| Subgenus: | |
| Species: | Iris adriatica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Iris adriatica Trin. ex Mitic
| |
| Synonyms | |
Iris adriatica is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the Dalmation region of Croatia in Europe. It has short sickle shaped leaves, small stem and flowers that vary from yellow to purple or violet. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
It is similar in form to Iris pseudopumila, Iris pumila and Iris attica.[4]
It has a rhizome.[3]
It has falcate (sickle-shaped),[3] or straight leaves,[4] can grow up to between 3–10 cm (1–4 in) long, and between 0.5 and 1cm wide.[3] They are normally longer than the flowering stem and die back at winter.[3]
It has a dwarf stem,[4] that can grow up to between 1–3 cm (0–1 in) tall.[3]
The stem has green spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that have wide scarious (membranous) margins, they are similar in size to the perianth tube, at 4–7 cm (2–3 in) long and slightled keeled at blooming time.[3]
The stems hold 1 terminal (top of stem) flower, blooming in spring,[5]
The large flowers,[5] come in shades of yellow,[4][3] purple,[5] or violet.[4][3]
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'.[6]: 17 The falls have a beard in the centre.[3]
After the iris has flowered, it produces an elliptical or trigonous ( ) seed capsule, that is 2-3 cm long,[3][4] when ripe it is straw coloured.[3] Inside the capsule are many little, elliptical shaped, dark brownish seeds.[3] They are smaller and darker than other similar irises.[4]
In 2009, a plant regeneration study was carried out on Iris adriatica, using somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis.[7]
In 2012, Iris adriatica was studied to assess the possibility of growing this species as a pot plant. Biometric analysis showed only that substrate was an influence in cultivation.[8]
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[6]: 18 It has a chromosome count: 2n = 16.[4][7]
It is sometimes commonly known asAdriatic Iris.[1][5]
The Latin specific epithet adriatica refers to being from the region beside the Adriatic sea.[9]
It was first described by Trinajstic L, Papes D., Lovasen-Eberhardt Z. & Bacani Lj. in 'Book of Summaries' page25 in 1980, but not validly published.[3]
New specimens were found in Dalmatia region, near the town of Sibenik in (Yugoslavia) Croatica, by M.Milović, M.Radnić, M.Mitić and B.Mitić on 16 March 2002.[10]
It was then described and published as Iris adriatica Trinajstić ex Mitićin 'Phyton' (the Annales rei Botanicae, Horn, Austria), Vol.42 on page 305 in 2002.[3][11][10]
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 7 April 2003, then updated on 2 December 2004.[11]
It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life.[12]
It is an accepted name of The Plant List, although no synonyms have been recorded on that source.[13]
Iris adriatica is not yet an accepted name by the RHS, as of 12 September 2015.
It is found in the Mediterranean country,[8][4] of Croatia,[11][2] within the Dalmatia region.[7][4][2] Including around the Croatian towns of Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Drniš and Unešić. As well as being found on the islands of Ciovo, Brač and Kornati.[7][3]
It grows in sandy,[5] meadows,[4] with Stipo-Salvietum officinalis (a mixture of Stipa, (grasses) and salvia officialis, sage plants)[14]
and Festuco-Koelerietum splendentis plants (a mixture of festuca and Koeleria splendens grasses [15]).[3]
They can be found at an altitude of 0–100 m (0–328 ft) above sea level.[16]
Iris adriatica has decreasing wild populations,[4] and was listed as near threatened (NT) in the Flora Croatica Red Book.[7]
The Dalmatian islands (Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily), have 179 endemic plants and several threatened species (on the IUCN Red List) including Iris adriatica, Salvia fruticosa, Salvia brachypodon, Portenschlagiella ramosissima, Phyllitis sagitata, Ornithogalum visianicum, Orchis quadripunctata, Geranium dalmaticum, Euphorbia rigida, and Dianthus multinervis.[17]
It is hardy to USDA Zone 8.[4]
It needs dry summers.[4]
It is thought to be difficult to grow in cultivation.[4]
It can be found growing in Biokovo Botanical Garden Kotišina.[5]
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[18]
