Iris vicaria is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Xiphium. It is a bulbous perennial.

It was first published by Alexeï Ivanovitch Vvedenski in 'Flora URSS (Flora Unionis Rerumpublicarum Sovieticarum Socialisticarum)' in 1935. Under the name 'Juno Vicaria'.^[2]

Iris vicaria is now the accepted name by the RHS.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

Iris vicaria Vved. in V.L.Komarov (ed.), Fl. URSS 4: 569 (1935).

Iris vicaria is from the Pamir-Altai Mtns of Central Asia. It is a medium to tall plant with flowers that are pale bluish violet, veined darker with a yellow or whitish crest and a yellow blotch.^[3]

Iris vicaria Vved. (Vvedensky, 1935, Hissar Mts., Baisun Mts, and Chulbair, in Soviet Central Asia);Subgenus Scorpiris, (Juno); height 8-20" (20-50 cm); March-April; Arching leaves, 5-7 well developed at flowering with internodes visible; vigorous plants producing 5+ flowers; standards pale violet with darker veins; falls pale bluish violet, darker lines at haft; yellow blotch around crisped or undulate crest of yellow or white; distinguished from magnifica by lacking a wing on the haft of the falls; in Komarow, Flora of URSS. vol 4. Iris 569. 1935. registered as: VICARIA. (Vvedensky, 1935, Tadjikistan); Juno; E. W1; White self; Fedtchenko; Komarow, Flora of URSS. vol 4. Iris 569. 1935;Van T. 1938; 1939; Revue Horticole 111: 14, 325. 16 Feb. 1939. The Iris Year Book 1948, p.131 printed the following letter: "From Mr. Th. Hoog, of Haarlem, Holland. The statement made by Dr. M. Amsler in the Iris Year Book of 1947 (p. 139) that Mr. G. P. Baker had collected this iris in Turkestan I fear misrepresents the facts, as Mr. Baker often collected in the Near East, but never in Central Asia. Very probably our old friend obtained this iris from Messrs. Van Tubergen, Haarlem. It was offered for the first time in their catalog for autumn 1938-spring 1939, and was described as: "I. vicaria, white delicate blue tinged, a very fine robust-growing species, bearing many flowers in the axils of the leaves, April, 2 feet." In 1930 or thereabouts the Russian Government was much interested in selling collected wild bulbs in Europe. At that time big importations of Lilium Szovitsianum, tulip species and other bulbs arrived. Some growers in the neighborhood offered I. warleyensis and as the stock of this species in our nursery had become very small we were interested to see these plants. However, on examing the plants labeled as I. warleyensis we found they were quite different and with the help of Professor Fedtschenko's book, Species of Wild Flowers of the U.S.S.R., we were able to determine the correct name. With us I. vicaria is as easily grown as I. bucharica and the new I. graeberiana. The bulbs are planted in the beginning of November in sandy soil, containing a fair quantity of lime. In winter the bulbs are covered with a layer of rushes as is the habit in the bulb district in Holland. The cover is taken off in spring and when the bulbs have died down in July the bulbs are lifted. We never leave them in the ground. Great care is taken that the roots are as far as possible are not damaged and the bulbs are stored in a dry, slightly-heated room til the time of planting has come again. Seeds are freely produced, and provide a ready means of propagating this species." A. C. Herrick in the same issue p. 97. Points out that Mr. Sealy of the Kew Herbarium believes that the plants referred to above are actually, yet another species Iris magnifica (Vedensky). Registered as a cultivar 'Vicaria'. ^[4]

Distinguishing Features:It has a yellow signal spot and spindly tubers as in the picture. It varies from pure white to amythest. it varies in size and can be nearly as big as I magnifica which has smaller less spherical bulbs and thick vertical tubers. the falls of I vicaria are always pinched unlike magnifica and vicarias flowers tend to be more spindly. (Peter Taggart UK, 05-JAN-10) Preferred Habitat:Drainage, food, percolating water while in growth, preferably not in the leaves (Peter Taggart UK, 05-JAN-10) Hardiness:Tolerates freezing in pots or the ground (Peter Taggart UK, 05-JAN-10) Native Range:Uzbekistan, sinai valley and further (Peter Taggart UK, 05-JAN-10) ^[5]

Iris vicaria Vvedensky. Subgenus Scorpiris. Up to nine flowers, white with a yellow crest and falls of the tenderest possible blue, are carried in the leaf axils and bloom in April-May. Native to the Pamir Alai, where spring thaw provides the year's main water, this plant is nonetheless growable outdoors where we are, in rainy Zone 6. Our stock descends from bulbs collected in 1982 on the upper Varzob River in Tajikistan. Height 30-40 cm (12-16").^[6]

Found in Tajikistan in Pamiro Alay mountain system.^[7] also mentions - Juno magnifica [=Iris magnifica], J. maracandica [=Iris maracandica], J. parvula [=Iris parvula]

• Image of Iris vicaria in Tajikistan

Media related to Iris vicaria at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Iris vicaria at Wikispecies

vicaria ;Category:Plants described in 1853 ;Category:Flora of Spain ;Category:Flora of Gibraltar ;Category:Flora of Morocco ;Category:Flora of Europe ;Category:Flora of Algiera