''Iris'' × ''germanica'' is the accepted name for a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the family ''

Iridaceae Iridaceae () is a family of plants in order Asparagales, taking its name from the Iris (plant), irises. It has a nearly global distribution, with 69 accepted genera with a total of about 2500 species. It includes a number of economically importan ...

'' commonly known as the bearded iris or the German bearded iris. It is of hybrid origin. Varieties include ''I.'' × ''g.'' var. ''florentina''.

Description

''Iris'' × ''germanica'' grows up to high and wide. The roots can go up to deep and it is a rhizomatous perennial that blooms mid to late spring. Hundreds of cultivars exist representing nearly every colour from jet black to sparkling whites and red. Some cultivars are known to re-bloom in the autumn (fall).

Biochemistry

It is known to produce the isoflavone irilone, and several analytical studies have been made from the rhizomes.

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

, having two sets of

chromosome 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 import ...

s, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. It has had its chromosome counted several times; 2n=44, Banerji & Chaudhuri, 1972; 2n=28, Mao 1986; 2n=44 Sopova 1982; 2n=44, Váchová & Feráková, 1986 and 2n=44, Lovka, 1995.

Taxonomy

It is most commonly known as 'bearded iris' and in the UK occasionally as 'common German flag'. It was first published and described as ''Iris germanica'' by

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...

in his book '

Species Plantarum ' (Latin for "The Species of Plants") is a book by Carl Linnaeus, originally published in 1753, which lists every species of plant known at the time, classified into genus, genera. It is the first work to consistently apply binomial nomenclature ...

' on page 38 in 1753. It has since been shown to be a natural hybrid involving a cross between two other European species ('' Iris pallida'' and '' Iris variegata'') rather than a true wild species of Iris, with both parent species having the same chromosome number (2n = 24) as the hybrid offspring. As a hybrid, according to correct scientific nomenclature, its official Latin name is ''Iris x germanica,'' according to

Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is ...

and many other botanical authorities where cross 'x' denotes its hybrid status. Despite this, ''Iris x germanica'' and its many named cultivars have been sold to gardeners under the name Iris germanica for many years, with some horticultural references, such as the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

(RHS) continuing to use ''Iris germanica'' as the accepted name.

Distribution and habitat

''Iris'' × ''germanica'' is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean region. It is widely

naturalized Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-national of a country acquires the nationality of that country after birth. The definition of naturalization by the International Organization for Migration of the ...

across Europe.

Cultivation

It prefers to grow in full sun, with well-drained soil. It normally retains some of its leaves over the winter period. After it has flowered and during dry conditions through the summer is best time to divide and transplant.

Propagation

It can be propagated by seed and by division.

Hybrids and cultivars

''Iris'' × ''germanica'' has many cultivars, there are thought to be about 60,000 cultivars available. These are a few known named cultivars: * 'Adriatic Shores' * 'Amas' * 'Askabadensis' * 'Baveilles' * 'Belouinii' * 'Biliotti' * 'Black Prince' * 'Col Du Chat' * 'Cretan' * 'Crimson King' * 'Croatica' * 'Deflexa' * 'Dominion' * 'Dusky Challenger' * 'Florentina' * 'Fontarabie' * 'Germanica' * 'Germanica Alba' * 'Germanica Caerulea' * 'Germanica Major' * 'Germanica Marmorata' * 'Germanica Maxima' * 'Germanica Violacea' * 'Germanica Vulgaris' * 'Gnome' * 'Gypsy Queen' * 'Istria' * 'Junonia' * 'Kharput' * 'Kirman' * 'Kochii' * 'Kurdistan' * 'Lemperg Purple' * 'Macrantha' * 'Nepalensis' * 'Oriflamme' * 'Paladin' * 'Purple King' * 'Seattle' * 'Sivas' * 'Srinagar' * 'Thun' * 'Titan's Glory' * 'Turchino' * 'Varbosiana' * 'Varbossana'. ''I.'' × ''germanica'' var. ''amas'' was one of the most important cultivars in the creation of the modern tetraploid tall-bearded Irises. In Italy and Thailand, the leaves can be affected by a fungus, '' Torula masonii''.

In culture

In Iran and Kashmir, '' Iris kashmiriana'' and ''Iris'' × ''germanica'' are commonly grown in

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

places of burial such as

cemeteries A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite, graveyard, or a green space called a memorial park or memorial garden, is a place where the remains of many dead people are buried or otherwise entombed. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek ) implies th ...

.British Iris Society (1997) It has frequently been painted including 'Irises' (see right) and ' Irises' both by

Vincent van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade, he created approximately 2,100 artworks ...

in 1890.Jennifer Helvey

Photo gallery

File:Clonal colony of Iris germanica.jpg,

Clonal colony A clonal colony or genet is a group of genetically identical individuals, such as plants, fungi, or bacteria, that have grown in a given location, all originating vegetatively, not sexually, from a single ancestor. In plants, an individual in ...

File:Iris Fabian.jpg, ''Iris'' 'Fabian' hybridized by John Salter, 1868, UK

References

Sources

* Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR) Cambridge University Press. Note: lists as Iris germanica L. * Davis, P. H., ed. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. Note: lists as ''Iris germanica'' L. * Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage Note: = species * FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America. Note: lists as ''Iris germanica'' L. * Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR. Note: = ''Iris germanica'' L. * Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants * Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 25–28. * Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of estPakistan. * Personal Care Products Council. INCI * Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica. Note: lists as ''Iris germanica'' L. * Stace, C. 1995. New flora of the British Isles. Note: natzd. * Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq. Note: = ''Iris germanica'' L. * Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea. Note: = ''Iris germanica'' L.* * Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China * Walters, S. M. et al., eds. 1986–2000. European garden flora {{DEFAULTSORT:Iris germanica germanica Flora of Europe Garden plants of Europe Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus