Iris iberica subspecies elegantissima
| Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima | |
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Endangered (Red Book)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Subfamily: | Iridoideae |
| Tribe: | Irideae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Iris |
| Species: | I. iberica |
| Subspecies: | I. i. elegantissima |
| Trinomial name | |
| Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima (Sosn.) Fed. & Takht. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Oncocyclus section. It is a subspecies of Iris iberica and is a rhizomatous perennial, from Armenia, Turkey and Iran. It has large, thin and falcate (sickle-shaped) leaves, slender stem with a single flower between April and May. It has a white, cream or pale yellow ground, which is covered in dark veining or speckling in violet, mauve, purple or brown shades. The larger standards are paler, normally white and less veined. The falls, have darker veining and a dark signal patch and brown or purple beard. It is commonly known as Iris elegantissima, especially in Europe and Russia. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, but normally needs some protection during the winter period.
It is classed as an mezo-xerophyte (meaning it likes medium to dry habitats), and has stoloniferous rhizomes which are about 3 cm long. Underneath the rhizomes, it has very long secondary roots.
It has large, ribbon-like, and falcate (sickle-shaped), leaves, that can grow up to between 20–30 cm (8–12 in) long,
It has a slender stem or peduncle, that starts to grow in March, up to between 20–30 cm (8–12 in) tall.
The stem holds a terminal (top of stem) flower, the plant normally has 2-3 stems, each with flower buds, blooming in Spring, between late March, or April and May, or June.
The large flowers, are 10–14 cm (4–6 in) in diameter, they have a white, cream, or pale yellow ground, has dark, veining or speckling in violet, mauve, purple or brown shades. Compared to Iris iberica which can have blue veining and marking.
Like other irises, it has 2 pairs of petals, 3 sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner petals (or tepals), known as the 'standards'. The darker veined,scallop shell shaped, falls are deflexed (bending over to an almost flat position), and up to 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long. in the center of the falls, is a velvet-like, dark, brown to purple, or black signal patch. Also, in the middle of the falls, is a row of short hairs called the 'beard', which are brown to purple. Also over the falls, the iris has a deflexed style branches that almost covers the signal spot. The almost vertical, and larger standards, are creamy, or white, with pale, or thin violet veins. They are up to 6–10 cm (2–4 in) long, and can be described as white cotton handkerchiefs.
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Wikipedia