''Iris halophila'' is a species in the genus ''

Iris Iris most often refers to: *Iris (anatomy), part of the eye * Iris (color), an ambiguous color term *Iris (mythology), a Greek goddess * ''Iris'' (plant), a genus of flowering plants * Iris (given name), a feminine given name, and a list of peopl ...

''. It is also in the subgenus '' Limniris'' and in series '' Spuriae''. It is a

rhizomatous In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

perennial plant In horticulture, the term perennial (''wikt:per-#Prefix, per-'' + ''wikt:-ennial#Suffix, -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annual plant, annuals and biennial plant, biennials. It has thus been d ...

, with yellow, white or violet flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...

regions. It comes from a wide range from eastern Europe to China in Asia. It was known for a long while as a subspecies of '' Iris spuria'', before being treated as a separate species in its own right.

Description

It is similar in form to '' Iris orientalis'' but it is shorter. It has stout, thick, purple brown rhizomes, which can be 1.3–3 cm in diameter. Under the rhizome are thick roots. The rhizome spreads along the ground in a creeping habit. It has greyish-green, linear, erect, sword-shaped, leaves. That can grow up to long, and 0.7–2 cm wide. The leaves do not have a mid-vein. The leaves and foliage are sometimes longer than the flowering stems. Similar to '' Iris spuria'', they also have the ability to produce an offensive smell, when the leaves are bruised. It has a smooth, long flowering stem. It has 1–4 very short lateral branches. The stems hold 3–8 flowers, 3–4 per stem, terminal (top of stem), in early summer, between May and June. The lanceolate and membranous at the top, spathes are long and 2 cm wide. It has flowers that are in diameter, ranging in colour from white, yellowish to grey purple, and violet. 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 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

(outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or

tepals A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower (collectively the perianth). The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. This may be because the parts of the perianth are undifferentiated (i.e. of ve ...

), known as the 'standards'. It has fiddle=shaped falls, with a narrow section between the claw (section closest to the stem) and limb or blade (outer part). The claw is 2–3 cm long and 0.5 cm wide and the oblong or rounded limb is 1.5 cm long and 1 cm wide. Normally, the limb bends downwards. It has an erect, oblanceolate standard, which is 3.5 cm long and 6–8 mm wide. Some references mention pale to dark yellow forms with darker veining. This is ''Iris spuria subsp. halophila'' (Pall.) B.Mathew & Wendelbo. It has a 1.5–3 cm long pedicel, a short, 1 cm long perianth tube, 3 cm long stamens, yellow anthers and 3.5–4 cm long ovary. The style branches (in white or yellow, depending on the petal colour) are 3.5 cm long and 6 mm wide. They are as long as the claw of the petals. After the iris has flowered, between July and August it produces a greenish brown, ellipsoid-cylindric (shaped) seed capsule, measuring long and 2–2.5 cm wide. It has ridges and beak on the top. Normally in pairs of capsules. Inside, are pyriform (pear shaped), paper-like seeds, with a glossy or wrinkled (rugose), yellowish maroon, seed coat (or

testa Testa may refer to: * Testa (botany), a term to describe the seed coat * Testa (surname) * Testa, Zanskar, a village in Ladakh, India * Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, a former Boston law firm * 11667 Testa, a main-belt asteroid discovered in 1997 * ...

Biochemistry

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. Here ''sets of chromosomes'' refers to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, ...

, having two sets of

chromosomes A chromosome is a package of DNA containing part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes, the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with nucleosome-forming packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells, the most importa ...

. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. It has been counted many times; 2n=44, 66, Lenz & Day, 1963; 2n=20, Lungeanu, 1970. 2n=44, is the accepted count number. In 2003, a study was carried out into the chemical structure of seeds of ''Iris halophila'', it found new chemical compounds including ''halophilol A'' and a new tetrastilbene, ''halophilol B''. In 2007, the anti-oxidative components of the rhizome of Iris halophila were studied in Li Xiao Fei's (of Xinjiang University) Master's thesis. Several chemical compounds were found including,

flavones Flavones (from Latin ''flavus'' "yellow") are a class of flavonoids based on the backbone of 2-phenylchromen-4-one (2-phenyl-1-benzopyran-4-one) (as shown in the first image of this article). Flavones are common in foods, mainly from spices, and ...

phenolic compounds In organic chemistry, phenols, sometimes called phenolics, are a class of chemical compounds consisting of one or more hydroxyl groups (− O H) bonded directly to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The simplest is phenol, . Phenolic compounds are c ...

amylose Amylose is a polysaccharide made of α-D-glucose units, bonded to each other through α(1→4) glycosidic bonds. It is one of the two components of starch, making up approximately 20–25% of it. Because of its tightly packed Helix, helical struct ...

and

organic acid An organic acid is an organic compound with acidic properties. The most common organic acids are the carboxylic acids, whose acidity is associated with their carboxyl group –COOH. Sulfonic acids, containing the group –SO2OH, are re ...

. The salt tolerance and absorption qualities of the iris have been studied. In 2012, a genetic study was carried out on ''

Iris laevigata ''Iris laevigata'', known as Japanese iris, rabbit-ear iris, or shallow-flowered iris (Japanese: カキツバタ), is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to Japan. It is related to other members of '' Iris'' subgenus '' ...

'' and several of its closely related iris species, including ''

Iris ensata ''Iris ensata'', the Japanese iris or Japanese water iris (Japanese: ''hanashōbu'', ハナショウブ), formerly ''I. kaempferi'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to Japan, China, Korea and Russia, and widely cu ...

'', '' Iris setosa'', ''Iris halophila'', '' Iris scariosa'', '' Iris potaninii'', '' Iris tenuifolia'', '' Iris bloudowii'', and ''

Iris sanguinea ''Iris sanguinea'' is a rhizome, rhizomatous flowering plant in the genus ''Iris (plant), Iris'' and in the series ''Iris ser. Sibiricae, Sibiricae''. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperateness, temperate regions. It is one of the s ...

''. In 2014, a study was carried out to work out the cross-breeding barriers between two Iris species, ''Iris halophila'' and ''

Iris pseudacorus ''Iris pseudacorus'', the yellow flag, yellow iris, or water flag, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa. Its specific epithet ''pseudacorus'' means "false acorus", r ...

''. a post-

zygotic A zygote (; , ) is a eukaryotic cell formed by a fertilization event between two gametes. The zygote's genome is a combination of the DNA in each gamete, and contains all of the genetic information of a new individual organism. The sexual ...

barrier was found to be the main obstacle.

Taxonomy

The Latin

specific epithet In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin gramm ...

''halophila'' refers to salt loving. It had the common name of ''long leafed flag'', It is known as ''the salt marsh iris'' in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

. It is written as 喜盐鸢尾 in

Chinese script Chinese characters are logographs used Written Chinese, to write the Chinese languages and others from regions historically influenced by Chinese culture. Of the four independently invented writing systems accepted by scholars, they represe ...

and known as ''xi yan yuan wei'' in

Pinyin Hanyu Pinyin, or simply pinyin, officially the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, is the most common romanization system for Standard Chinese. ''Hanyu'' () literally means 'Han Chinese, Han language'—that is, the Chinese language—while ''pinyin' ...

Chinese. It was first published as ''Iris spuria'' subsp. ''halophila'', by

Peter Simon Pallas Peter Simon Pallas Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS FRSE (22 September 1741 – 8 September 1811) was a Prussia, Prussian zoologist, botanist, Ethnography, ethnographer, Exploration, explorer, Geography, geographer, Geology, geologist, Natura ...

in 'Reise Russ. Reich.' Vol. 2 page 733 in 1773. It was then 3 years later re-published as ''Iris halophila'' by Pallas in 'Reise Russ. Reich.' Vol. 3 page 713 in 1776. Most plant authors and botanists classed it as a subspecies of ''Iris spuria'', including

Brian Mathew Brian Frederick Mathew MBE, VMH is a British botanist, born in the village of Limpsfield, Surrey, England. His particular area of expertise is bulbous plants, particularly ornamental bulbous plants, although he has contributed to other field ...

in 1981 in his book ''The Iris''. It was still verified as ''Iris halophila'' by

United States Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an executive department of the United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and producti ...

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 9 January 2003. , it is incorrectly listed as a synonym of ''Iris spuria'' by the RHS.

Native

Iris halophila is

native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...

to a wide range of

regions, from western Europe to Central Asia.

Range

It is found in the European countries of

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

and

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

. In the middle Asian countries of (the former

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

republics of); it is found in

Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains, Pamir mountain ranges. Bishkek is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Kyrgyzstan, largest city. Kyrgyz ...

and

Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...

. It is also found in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

(or

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

,),

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

and

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

and within the

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, comprising parts of Southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The Caucasus Mountains, i ...

area of

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

. It is found in west Asian countries and regions of

Siberia Siberia ( ; , ) is an extensive geographical region comprising all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has formed a part of the sovereign territory of Russia and its predecessor states ...

Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...

and

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. Within China, it is found in the

Chinese provinces Provinces ( zh, c=省, p=Shěng) are the most numerous type of province-level divisions in the People's Republic of China (PRC). There are currently 22 provinces administered by the PRC and one province that is claimed, but not administere ...

Gansu Gansu is a provinces of China, province in Northwestern China. Its capital and largest city is Lanzhou, in the southeastern part of the province. The seventh-largest administrative district by area at , Gansu lies between the Tibetan Plateau, Ti ...

and

Xinjiang Xinjiang,; , SASM/GNC romanization, SASM/GNC: Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Sinkiang, officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the China, People' ...

Habitat

''Iris halophila'' is grown on wet grasslands or meadows, on hillsides, beside rivers and on wet salty soils or salt marshes.

Cultivation

It 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, ...

to −25 °C. It is known to lose the leaves in the winter, leaving a few short leaf tips. It prefers moist, heavy soils but can tolerate most other soils. It prefers positions in full sun. It is very hardy, seeds very readily and so springs up where more delicate species have died out. It is thought to be best planted between August and September.

Uses

It is used in Chinese herbal medicines to treat

hematochezia Hematochezia is a form of blood in stool, in which fresh blood passes through the anus while defecating. It differs from melena, which commonly refers to blood in stool originating from upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). The term derives ...

and various other problems. A research specimen exists in the

Linnean Society of London The Linnean Society of London is a learned society dedicated to the study and dissemination of information concerning natural history, evolution, and Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy. It possesses several important biological specimen, manuscript a ...

herbarium.

Hybrids and cultivars

''Iris halophila'' var. ''sogdiana'' (Bunge) Grubov is a known variant, although this was only recently thought as a synonym of ''Iris halophila''.

References

Sources

*Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR). (found under I. spuria subsp. halophila (Pall.) B. Mathew & Wendelbo). *Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR. ccepts *Krasnoborov, I. M., ed. 2000–. Flora of Siberia (English translation). ccepts *Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 117. nder I. spuria subsp. halophila (Pall.) B. Mathew & Wendelbo *Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963–. Flora iranica. I. spuria subsp. halophila (Pall.) B. Mathew & Wendelbo *Soldano, A. 1994. Neglected name priorities in the European flora. Thaiszia 4:121. *Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea. nder I. spuria subsp. halophila (Pall.) B. Mathew & Wendelbo *Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994–. Flora of China (English edition).

External links

Russian website with many images of Iris halophila
* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q10923622

halophila ''Halophila'' is a genus of seagrasses in the family '' Hydrocharitaceae'', the tape-grasses. It was described as a genus in 1806. The number of its contained species, and its own placement in the order Alismatales, has evolved. Description T ...

Flora of Central Asia Flora of Eastern Europe Flora of Southeastern Europe Flora of Western Asia Flora of China Flora of Mongolia Flora of Russia Flora of Siberia Flora of Kyrgyzstan Flora of Pakistan Flora of Uzbekistan Garden plants of Asia Garden plants of Europe Plants described in 1776 Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine