| Iris brandzae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Iris subg.Limniris |
| Section: | Irissect. Limniris |
| Series: | Irisser. Spuriae |
| Species: | I. brandzae |
| Binomial name | |
| Iris brandzae | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Iris brandzae is a species in the genusIris. It is also in the subgenusLimniris and in seriesSpuriae. It is arhizomatousperennial plant, with violet and white flowers, described originally fromRomania. It was once thought to be asubspecies ofIris sintenisii, but is now classified as a separate species. It is also calledIris Brandzy orProdan Iris in Russia. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant intemperate regions.
Iris brandzae is similar in form toIris sintenisii, but with several differences, including leaf form, flower shape and spathe form.[2][3][4]
It has an (un-described) rhizome,[5] which can forms small clumps of plants.[6]
It has grass-like leaves that are very narrow,[7][8][9] erect, greenish blue, rough or scabrid (to the touch), and notevergreen.[2][6][10] They can grow up to between 30–35 cm (12–14 in) long,[11] and 1.5–3.5 mm wide.[9][10][12] The leaves also have 2–5 prominent veins.[2][10]
UnlikeIris sintenisii,[2] it has stems that are generally taller than the leaves, which can grow up to between 20–45 cm (8–18 in) tall.[5][13][14] The stems have strongly inflated, greenspathes, (leaves of the flower bud),[2][4][9] which also have prominent veining.[10]
It has flowers that are similar in form to other dwarf spurias.[6] and they have 2 terminal (top of stem) scented flowers,[11] that begin blooming in the spring,[6][12] between April and May.[2][5][14] They come in shades of blue-violet,[6] deep-blue,[14] or blue-purple.[11]
It has 2 pairs of petals, 3 largesepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (ortepals, known as the 'standards'.[15] Compared toIris sintenisii, they have narrow mid tepals (the claws) which are narrow.[3]
After the iris has flowered, it produces aterracotta coloured seed capsule, in the fall (autumn).[12]
As most irises arediploid, having two sets ofchromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[15]
In 1948, an analysis was carried out by Tarnavschi, and published as 2n=10,[3][10] which does not match with other spuria irises.[3]Other published counts are 2n=20.[2][16]
The Latinspecific epithetbrandzae refers to botanistDimitrie Brândză (1846–1895).
It is sometimes calledProdan Iris,[17] orIris Brandzy in Russia.[5][17]
It was originally published and described asIris brandzae byIuliu Prodan inBuletinul Gradinii Botanice si al Muzeului Botanic dela Universitatea din Cluj (Bul. Grad. Bot. Univ. Cluj) Vol.15 page103 in 1935.[18][19][20]
It was also published by Czerep, in 1973 Svod Dopolm. IzmenFlora SSSR page301 and then by Geiderman in 1975, Opred. Vyssh. Rast. Mold SSR Ed2 page109.[16]
It was later published asIris sintenisii Janka subsp. brandzae (Prod.) D.A. Webb & Chater by D.A. Webb & Chater in the 'Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society' (Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 76.) in 1978,.[19][20] It was thought to have a more limited geographical distribution thanIris sintenisii, around Romania.[2] It stayed like this for many years until the authors of the Romanian flora books ('Flora Ilustrata a Romanie' by Ciocarlan 2009 and 'Plante Vasculare din Romania. Determinator ilustrat de teren (Vascular Plants of Romania. An illustrated field guide)' by Sarbu, Stefan et Oprea 2013[21]) re-classified the taxon as an independent and separate species.[1]
Although some references still call itIris sintenisii Janka subsp.brandzae.[22]
It has not yet been verified byUnited States Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service as of February 2015.
Iris sintenisii subsp.brandzae, as of February 2015 was a tentatively accepted name by theRHS.[23]
Iris brandzea isnative to Central Europe.[16]
The original specimens were found in Romania.[4][7][9] It is also found inMoldavia,[3][10][16]Bessarabia,[2][11]Asia Minor,[14] and theCarpathians, (in Central and Eastern Europe).[14][16]
Although it is more rarely found, thanIris sintenisii.[13]
Specifically, it can be found on theplains of Romania and Moldova.[3]
It grows in very different habitats toIris sintenisii. It is amesophyte (growing in neither dry or wet habitats).[3]
It grows in saline marshes or wet meadows,[2][7][9][10] and forest glades.[16]
It has also been found in steppe forest woodland underFraxinus pallisiae (ash trees).[3]
In 2003, it (asIris brandzae) was assessed as 'Rare' in the nature reserve of 'Padurea Harboanca' in Romania.[24]
Iris brandzae ishardy toUSDA Zone 5.[6]It is also hardy inUkraine.[20]
It prefers moist, well drained and humus rich soils.[14]
It prefers positions in semi-shade.[6][14]
It is tolerant of wet springs and hot dry summers.[6]
Iris brandzae is grown inIași Botanical Garden, Romania. In the northern part of the garden, calledThe Section Moldavia Sylvosteppe, along with other plants such as;Crambe tataria,Echium rossicum,Pulsatilla vulgaris ssp. grandis,Beta trigyna,Dianthus capitatus,Artemisia austriaca,Achillea setacea,Astragalus onobrychis,Hyacinthella leucophaea,Plantago schwarzenbergiana,Rumex tuberosus ssp. tuberosus,Crocus reticulatus,Galium moldavicum,Paeonia tenuifolia andAmygdalus nana.[25]
Specimens can be found inSaratov State University, Russia.[26]
Specimens can be found growing in the Botanical Garden ofŠiauliai University inLithuania.[27]
In 1961, an illustration ofIris brandzae was used on apostage stamp in Romania. It was issued on 15 August 1961, as part of the series '100 years of Bucharest Botanical Garden'.[28][29][30]
Media related toIris sintenisii subsp. brandzae at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toIris brandzae at Wikispecies