''Iris crocea'' is a species in the genus ''
Iris'', it is also in the subgenus ''
Limniris'' and the series ''
Spuriae''. It is a
rhizomatous perennial plant, found in
Kashmir
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is also commonly known as ''Golden Iris'' or ''Golden Flag''. It was also known as Iris aurea for a long time, before that was regarded as a synonym of ''Iris crocea''.
Description
It is similar in form to ''
Iris orientalis
''Iris orientalis'' is a species in the genus ''Iris''; it is also in the subgenus '' Limniris'' and in the series '' Spuriae''. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, from Turkey and Greece, with white flowers with a yellow mark or blotch. It wa ...
'' but with larger flowers.
It has stout rhizomes,
and it has long,
erect,
straight, and (ensiform) sword-like leaves.
[British Iris Society (1997) ] Measuring between long and 1.5–2.5 cm wide.
[ and it has 2–3 green, between long, spathes (leaves of the flower bud).][
The stems hold 2–3 flowers,][ one terminal (top of stem) and two lateral (further down the stem),][ blooming early summer,][ or June and July (in the UK).][ in shades of yellow,][ from pure yellow,][ to bright yellow,][ to golden yellow.][
It has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large ]sepals
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...
(outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or tepals), known as the 'standards'.[ The wavy edged falls,][ are long and 4–5 cm wide.][ They have a narrow 3–4 cm long haft (section of petal closest to the centre).][ The standards are oblanceolate, wavy edged (or crinkled),][ measuring long.][
It has a 3.5–4 cm long style, with a deltoid crest,][ in the same shade of colour as the petals.
It has a 1–1.5 cm long perianth tube,][ and a 3–4 cm long pedicel.][
After the iris has flowered, it produces an oblong seed capsule, measuring 3.8–4 cm long. It has 6 angles and beak.][
]
Biochemistry
In 1992, the chemical composition of the iris was studied, using spectroscopic and chemical methods. Several compounds were found including an isoflavone glucoside
A glucoside is a glycoside that is derived from glucose. Glucosides are common in plants, but rare in animals. Glucose is produced when a glucoside is hydrolysed by purely chemical means, or decomposed by fermentation or enzymes.
The name was o ...
, called tectorigenin
Tectorigenin is an O-methylated isoflavone, a type of flavonoid. It can be isolated from leopard lily ('' Belamcanda chinensis''), in '' Iris unguicularis'' or '' Pueraria thunbergiana''.
Glycosides
Tectoridin is the 7-glucoside
A glucoside ...
4′-glucoside.
In June 2012, a phytochemical
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them resist fungi, bacteria and plant virus infections, and also consumption by insects and other animals. The name comes . Some phytochemicals have been used as poisons ...
study was carried out on 5 iris species growing in Kashmir
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
, India. Including ''Iris crocea'', '' Iris ensata'', '' Iris germanica'', '' Iris hookeriana'' and '' Iris kashmiriana''. It found several flavonoids (including isoflavonoids, glycosides
In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. ...
and tannins), within the irises.
In September 2012, five Iris species ('' Iris pseudacorus'', ''Iris crocea'', ''Iris spuria
''Iris spuria'' is a species of the genus Iris (plant), Iris, part of the subgenus ''Iris subg. Limniris, Limniris'' and the series ''Iris ser. Spuriae, Spuriae''. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, from Europe, Asia and Africa. It has purple ...
'', ''Iris orientalis'' and '' Iris ensata'') were studied, to measure the flavonoids and phenolics content with the rhizomes. ''Iris pseudacorus'' had the highest content and ''Iris crocea'' had the lowest content.
In 2014, eight Irises from the Limniris section (''Iris crocea'', ''Iris ensata'', ''Iris orientalis
''Iris orientalis'' is a species in the genus ''Iris''; it is also in the subgenus '' Limniris'' and in the series '' Spuriae''. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, from Turkey and Greece, with white flowers with a yellow mark or blotch. It wa ...
'', ''Iris pseudacorus'', '' Iris setosa'', ''Iris sibirica
''Iris sibirica'' ( commonly known as Siberian iris or Siberian flag), is a species in the genus ''Iris''. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from Europe (including France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Hu ...
'' with its cultivars ´Supernatural´ and ´Whiskey White´, ''Iris spuria
''Iris spuria'' is a species of the genus Iris (plant), Iris, part of the subgenus ''Iris subg. Limniris, Limniris'' and the series ''Iris ser. Spuriae, Spuriae''. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, from Europe, Asia and Africa. It has purple ...
'' and ''Iris versicolor
''Iris versicolor'' is also commonly known as the blue flag, harlequin blueflag, larger blue flag, northern blue flag, and poison flag, plus other variations of these names, and in Britain and Ireland as purple iris.
It is a species of '' Iri ...
'') were studied to find 12 chemical compounds (flavonoid
Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids; from the Latin word ''flavus'', meaning yellow, their color in nature) are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans.
Chemically, flavonoids ...
s, phenols, quinone
The quinones are a class of organic compounds that are formally "derived from aromatic compounds uch as benzene or naphthalene
Uch ( pa, ;
ur, ), frequently referred to as Uch Sharīf ( pa, ;
ur, ; ''"Noble Uch"''), is a historic city in the southern part of Pakistan's Punjab province. Uch may have been founded as Alexandria on the Indus, a town founded by Alexand ...
by conversion of an even number of –CH= groups into –C(=O)– groups with any necessary rearrangement of double ...
s, tannins, saponin
Saponins (Latin "sapon", soap + "-in", one of), also selectively referred to as triterpene glycosides, are bitter-tasting usually toxic plant-derived organic chemicals that have a foamy quality when agitated in water. They are widely distributed ...
s, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroid
A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and a ...
s, glycosides and proteins
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...
).
In 2015, a new rotenoid called 'Crocetenone' was extracted from the rhizome of the iris.
Genetics
As most irises are diploid
Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Sets of chromosomes refer to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, respectively ...
, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[ It has a chromosome count: 2n=40.][
It has been counted several times; 2n=40, Lenz & Day, 1963; 2n=40, Mehra & Pand., 1978; 2n=40, Simonet, 1932; 2n=40, Banerji; 1970; 2n=40, Sharma, 1970; 2n=34, Mehra & Sach., 1976 and 2n=40, Karihaloo, 1978.][
]
Taxonomy
It has a few of common names, including 'Golden Iris',specific epithet
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
''crocea'' refers to the word for saffron coloured or yellow.
It was originally described under the name ''Iris aurea'' Lindl. by Baker
A baker is a tradesperson who bakes and sometimes sells breads and other products made of flour by using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery.
History
Ancient history
Since grains ha ...
in '' The Gardeners' Chronicle'' p. 584 on 4 November 1876.[ This name was later declared Illegitimate.][ It was then published in the Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol.16, page141 in 1877.][
It was the published and described as ''Iris crocea'' by ]Jacque
Jacque is a given name and a surname which may refer to:
__NOTOC__ People
* Jacque Batt (died 2014), American First Lady of Idaho 1994-1999
* Jaque Fourie (born 1983), South African former rugby union rugby player
* Jacque Fresco (1916–2017), Ame ...
in 'Gentes Herbarum', Vol.8 page21 in 1949, based on an earlier description by R.C.Foster in 'Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University' Vol.114, page41 in 1936.Agricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area. ARS is charged with ext ...
on 4 April 2003.[
]
Distribution and habitat
It is native to tropical regions of Central Asia.[
]
Range
It is found in Kashmir,[ and Jammu in India.][ It is also found in the west Himalayas.,][ in Bhutan, Pakistan and ]China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
.[
]
Habitat
It is found growing on graves within cemeteries,[ also beside roads and on ]central reservation
The median strip, central reservation, roadway median, or traffic median is the reserved area that separates opposing lanes of traffic on divided roadways such as divided highways, dual carriageways, freeways, and motorways. The term also a ...
s of roads.[ It was found originally in grassy woods.][ It is found at altitudes between above sea levels.][
]
Cultivation
''Iris crocea'' is hardy
Hardy may refer to:
People
* Hardy (surname)
* Hardy (given name)
* Hardy (singer), American singer-songwriter Places Antarctica
* Mount Hardy, Enderby Land
* Hardy Cove, Greenwich Island
* Hardy Rocks, Biscoe Islands
Australia
* Hardy, Sout ...
to USDA Zones 3 – 10.[ Known to be hardy to −20OC.][ It is known to be tough and reliable in the UK.][ It grows well on likes rich, well drained soils such as,][ heavy loam in the UK.][ It is tolerant of clay soils.][
It likes mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils.][ It prefers positions in full sun.][ It also prefers to be moist during the growing season.][ It resents being disturbed after being planted.][
It can be grown in the long grasses of orchards.][
]
Propagation
It can be propagated by division or by seed.[
]
Hybrids and cultivars
Known ''Iris crocea'' crosses included;
*''Iris crocea'' X ''Iris orientalis'': 'Carol McKee', 'Mrs. H. R. Moore', 'Ochraurea'.
*''Iris orientalis'' X ''Iris crocea'': 'Shelford Giant'.
*'' Iris monnieri'' X ''Iris crocea'': 'Monaurea'.
*''Iris crocea'' X Unknown : 'Mrs. Ethel Guiberson'.
*''Iris spuria'' X Iris crocea: 'Spuraur'.[
]
References
Sources
*Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 110–112.
*Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970–. Flora of estPakistan.
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15569556
crocea
Flora of Jammu and Kashmir
Garden plants of Asia
Plants described in 1876