Iris revoluta

Iris revoluta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Irideae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris
Species: Iris revoluta
Binomial name
Iris revoluta

Iris revoluta is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from a small area in Salento, Italy. It has (sword-shaped) or falcate (sickle-shaped) glaucous leaves, tall slender stem with several short branches and 2-4 fragrant flowers in dark violet, purple, violet and pale violet. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Description

It has horizontal,[1] thick and knotted rhizomes.[2][3]

The ensiform (sword-shaped) or falcate (sickle-shaped) leaves can grow up to between 30–40 cm (12–16 in) long,[1][2] and between 3 cm wide.[2][3] They are green-yellow,[1] or glaucous,[2]

It has a sub-cylindrical,[2] slender stem,[4] or peduncle,[2] that can grow up to between 65–70 cm (26–28 in) tall.[5][6][7] The stem and flowers are taller than the leaves.[2] It has several, short and weak branches,[2][4][5] (or pedicels).[3]

The stem has 2-4,[1] green, long, inflated, spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that are 5–6 cm (2–2 in) long, and (scarious) or membranous at the ends.[2][3] The flowers appear after each spathe or bract.[2]

The stems (and the many branches) hold between 2-4 flowers,[2] usually 1-2 per branch,[3] in late March.[1]

The scented flowers,[2][6][7] come in shades of violet, from dark violet,[2][5] purple,[1][4] violet,[6] and pale violet.[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'.[8]:17 The velvet-like falls,[1][2] are obovate, and recurved,[7] revolute (or folded).[1][5] They can reach 7.6–7.8 cm (3–3 in) long and 4 - 4.8 wide.[2][3] In the middle of the falls, is a row of short hairs called the 'beard', which is white,[1] or pale violet and has a yellow tip.[3] The paler standards,[3] are elliptical and narrow at the base, reaching 7.8 cm (3 in) long and 4 cm wide.[2][3]

The 3 style arms are 3 cm long.[3] The perianth tube is funnel shaped, have violet stripes and around 3.8 cm long.[1][2][3] It has a 1.2 cm long filament,1.5 cm long anther and a 2 cm long and oblong-subtrigonal shaped ovary.[2][3]

After the iris has flowered, it produces an oblong-ovate shaped seed capsule, which is 8.6 cm (3 in) long and 3 cm wide. The capsule has 6 slight grooves, along it. Inside the capsule, are oval or sub-oval seeds without arils.[2][3]

Biochemistry

In 2012, a study was carried out on 4 diploid and 7 allopolyploid bearded Iris species. In central Italy, there are a number of Iris species of allopolyploid origin Their leaf flavonoid, isoflavonoid and xanthone constituents were investigated. It found that Iris revoluta had a chromosome number of 2n=40, similar to Iris lutescens Lam., Iris marsica I. Ricci and Colas. (Ricci and Colasante, 1973), Iris bicapitata Colas. (Colasante, 1996) and Iris setina Colas. (Colasante, 1989; 1992).[9]

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[8]:18 It has a chromosome count of 2n=40.[1][6][7] Which is the same as Iris setina, Iris bicapitata, Iris lutescens, Iris relicta and Iris revoluta.[10]

Taxonomy

It is sometimes called Iris Salento.[11]

The Latin specific epithet revoluta refers to being rolled back or rolled out,[12] which describes the curled blade of the falls (of the flower).[2][5]

It was originally discovered and collected by Prof. Peter Parenzan,[11] (of the Museum of Marine Biology[13]) on the islet of Mojuso near Porto Cesareo,[14] in the gulf of Taranto, within the Lecce in southern Italy.[2][11]

Specimens of the plant were then sent to Maretta Colasante (from Ricci University of Rome), who studied the plant,[11] and then first published and described it as Iris revoluta by in 'Annali di Botanica', (published in Roma), Vol. 35-36 on pages 155-168 between 1976–77, (published in 1978).[2][15][16]

It is thought the species is of hybrid origin, with no parental species defined, it is also not found anywhere else in Apulia or southern Italy.[5][11] It is also very different to Iris pseudopumila (a yellow flowering iris,[4]) which is the only other iris species present from Central to Southern Apulia.[4][5]

It was also later published and described by Colasante in 'Bulletin of the American Iris Society' Vol.292 on pages 82–85 in January 1994.[2]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated on 3 December 2004.[16]

It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life,[17] and in the Catalogue of Life.[18]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to Europe.[16]

Range

It is endemic species of the small islands in the bay of Porto Cesareo,[4] near the city of Lecce,[3] on the peninsula of Salento,[1][19] part of the Apulia region,[5] (known as Puglia in Italy),[20] within Italy.[6][7][15]

It is also found on “Isola dei Conigli” (also known as Rabbit Island), the biggest island near Porto Cesareo.[21]

It is listed as an endemic of Salento with Centaurea japygica (Lacaita) Brullo, Centaurea leucadea Lacaita, Centaurea nobilis (Groves) Brullo, Dianthus japigicus White & Brullo, Limonium japygicum (Groves) Pign. ,Ophrys tardans O. & E. Danesch, Plantago grovesii Brullo and Vicia giacominiana Segelberg[11]

Habitat

It grows on the scrub lands of sandy soils.[1][5]

Conservation

It is a rare species,[19] and under threat of extinction.[1][11] It is protected by the EU Habitats Directive (Annex IV) and the Berne Convention (Annexe I) 1979.[22] It is also listed on the "Red Book of Plants of Italia" and the IUCN regional Red List of Italian flora.[11]

It is rare due to the fact that it does not seem to set seed in cultivation, but in the wild, instead it re-produces vegetatively,[5] (by division).[19]

Cultivation

It can grow very well in normal soil,[5] although it does not seem to grow well in Kew Gardens in London, UK.[3]

It has been cultivated for many years, in the Botanical Garden of the Di.S.Te.B.A., University of Lecce.[19][23] Also known as the University of Salento.[24] It has been studied at the Botanical Garden to investigate the reasons limiting its sexual reproduction,[19] as well as Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss, Linum tommasinii Rchb. and others.[23]

It is a plant not generally offered for sale,[1] except in specialist nurseries.[5]

Propagation

Irises can generally be propagated by division.[19][25]

Toxicity

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.[26]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Chapter I Rhizomatous Iris (part 2)". irisbotanique.over-blog.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Franco, Alain (2 December 2013). "(SPEC) Iris revoluta Colas.". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 British Iris Society (1997)A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation, p. 56, at Google Books
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Apulo, Lilio. "A bathroom off season" (in Italian). compagniadelgardinaggio.it. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Iris revoluta". rareplants.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Kramb, D. (5 September 2004). "Iris revoluta". signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America). Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  8. 1 2 Austin, Claire (2005). Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia. Timber Press. ISBN 0881927309.
  9. ↑ Williams, C. A.; Harborne, J. B.; Colasante, M. (2000). "The Pathway Of Chemical Evolution In Bearded Iris Species Based On Flavonoid And Xanthone Patterns" (PDF). Annali di Botanica. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  10. ↑ Colasante, M.; Vosa, C.G. (2000). "Iris:Allocyclic segments as Chromosome markers?". Annali di botanica. 58: 127–134. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Medagli, Peter; Albano, Antonella; Apples, Concetta; Marchiori, Silvano. "The endemic flora exclusive Salento" (PDF) (in Italian). culturaservizi.it. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  12. ↑ D. Gledhill The Names of Plants, p. 329, at Google Books
  13. ↑ "Museum of Marine Biology "Peter Parenzan"" (in Italian). beniculturali.it. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Loci classic Italian endemic vascular plants described for Puglia" (PDF). Bulletin of Botanical Italian Company Ngo (in Italian). 46 (2). December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Iridaceae Iris revoluta Colas.". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 "Taxon: Iris revoluta Colasante". ars-grin.gov (Germplasm Resources Information Network). Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  17. ↑ "Iris revoluta". eol.org. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  18. ↑ "Iris revoluta". catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Accoglia, R.; Nutricatia, E.; Famàb, L.; Medaglia, P.; Mannob, D.; De Bellisa, L.; Marchioria, S.; Colasante, M. (2008). "Iris revoluta Colas., natural hybrid origin species: characterization and preservation problems". Plant Biosystems. 142 (1): 162–165. doi:10.1080/11263500701872986. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  20. ↑ Wagensommer, Robert Philipp; Medagli, Peter; Albano, A.; Peruzzi, Lorenzo; Bartolucci, Fabrizio; Villani, Mariacristina (December 2014). "Loci classic Italian endemic vascular plants described for Puglia". Informatore Botanico Italiano. 46 (2): 323–369. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  21. ↑ "West Small Islands, Cesaria's Island of Big Island" (in Italian). torrecastiglione.it. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  22. ↑ Council of Europe (Editors) Biodiversity and Climate Change: Reports and Guidance Developed under the Bern Convention (2012), Volume 2, p. 212, at Google Books
  23. 1 2 Accogli, Rita; Marchiori, Silvano (2006). "Ex situ conservation and rare plants propagation in the Lecce Botanical Garden: reproductive biology problems" (PDF). Caryologia. 59 (4): 345–349. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  24. ↑ "Scienze Etecnologie Biologiche e Ambientali" (in Italian). disteba.unisalento.it. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "How to divide iris rhizomes". gardenersworld.com. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  26. ↑ David G Spoerke and Susan C. SmolinskeToxicity of Houseplants, p. 236, at Google Books

Other sources

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

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