Iris atrofusca
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = אירוס שחום.jpg
|status = NT
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|genus = Iris
|display_parents = 2
|parent = Iris sect. Oncocyclus
|species = atrofusca
|authority = Baker
|synonyms = {{Species list
| Iris atropurpurea var. gileadensis |Dinsm.
| Iris hauranensis |Dinsm.
| Iris jordana |Dinsm.
| Iris loessicola |Kushnir
}}
|synonyms_ref = {{cite web |title=Iris atrofusca Baker is an accepted name |date= 23 March 2012 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-321579 |publisher=theplantlist.org (The Plant List) |access-date=12 April 2016}}{{cite web |title=Jil'ad Iris |url=http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/193498/ |publisher=davesgarden.com |access-date=12 April 2016}}
}}
Iris atrofusca (Judean iris or Gilead iris) is a species in the genus Iris, where it is placed in the subgenus Iris and the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial from the deserts of Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Jordan. The species has long falcate (sickle-shaped) or ensiform (sword-shaped) leaves, a long thick stem and large fragrant flowers that come in shades of purple brown, reddish-black, black-brown, dark brown, dark lilac or dark purple. The flowers also have a black or brownish-black signal patch and a thick beard that is brown-black, light brown or yellow tipped with brown. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Description
It has a stout, compact rhizome,British Iris Society (1997){{Google books|pL6uPLo7l2gC|A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation|page=69}} with very long secondary roots.{{cite web |title=Chapter I (Part 5) I Oncocyclus |url=http://irisbotanique.over-blog.com/article-chapitre-i-partie-5-les-oncocyclus-i-124148129.html |publisher=irisbotanique.over-blog.com |language=fr |access-date=3 March 2016}} The rhizomes grow level with the surface of the soil, so that they can benefit from heat from the sun. The roots form dense, thick clumps{{cite web |title=Iris atrofusca |url=http://www.rareplants.co.uk/product/iris-atrofusca/ |publisher=rareplants.co.uk |access-date=5 April 2016}}{{cite web |first=Ori |last= Fragman-Sapir |title=Iris atrofusca |date=16 September 2006 |url=http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Iris-atrofusca |publisher=signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America) |access-date=5 April 2016}} reaching 0.5 m wide.{{cite web |title=Iris atrofusca |url=http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Irisatrofusca_page.htm |publisher=flowersinisrael.com |access-date=5 April 2016}}
The leaves of the iris are falcate (sickle-shaped), or erect, or ensiform (sword-shaped).{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=John Gilbert |date=1893 |title=Iris atrofusca |journal=The Gardeners' Chronicle |volume=1 |pages=384 }} It is thought that specimens from the Arad valley have falcate (curved) leaves, compared with those found in the Beersheva hills or (Be'er Sheva), which have erect leaves.{{cite journal |last1=Volisa |first1=Sergei |last2=Zhangb |first2=Yong-Hong |last3=Dormanc |first3=Michael |last4=Blecherd |first4=Michael |date=1979 |title=Two Ecotypes Of Iris Atrofusca Bak. And Their Relations To Man-Modified Habitats |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0021213X.1979.10676859 |journal=Israel Journal of Botany |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=80–86 |doi=10.1080/0021213X.1979.10676859 |access-date=5 April 2016|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 }} They are also similar to Iris susiana (another Oncocyclus section Iris).{{cite web |first=William |last=Dykes |author-link=William Rickatson Dykes |title=Handbook of Garden Irises |year=2009 |url=http://www.beardlessiris.org/reviews/handbook%20of%20garden%20irises%20-%20dykes.pdf |publisher=beardlessiris.org (The Group for Beardless Irises) |access-date=1 November 2014}} The iris can have up to 5–8 leaves, which are greyish-green or pale green and slightly glaucescent. They can grow up to between {{convert|15|-|40|cm|0|abbr=on}} long,{{cite web |first=John |last=Black |title=(SPEC) Iris atrofusca Baker |date=19 January 2016 |url=http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/Spec/SpecAtrofusca |publisher=wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society) |access-date=5 April 2016}} and between 0.8 and 2 cm wide.
It has a stout stem or peduncle that can grow up to between {{convert|20|-|45|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall.{{cite web |title=Iris summary |date=14 April 2014 |url=http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/Iris/Iris_Summary.pdf |publisher=pacificbulbsociety.org |access-date=23 November 2014}}{{cite book |last1=Cassidy |first1=George E. |last2=Linnegar |first2=Sidney |date=1987 |edition=Revised |title=Growing Irises |location=Bromley |publisher=Christopher Helm |isbn=978-0-88192-089-5}} It is as tall as I. susiana. The stem has pale green, ventricose (swollen or inflated) spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which are {{convert|9|-|10|cm|1|abbr=on}} long. The single terminal (top of stem) flowers{{cite journal |last1=Volis |first1=Sergei |last2=Blecher |first2=Michael |last3=Sapi |first3=Yuval |date=21 June 2010 |title=Application of complex conservation strategy to Iris atrofusca of the Northern Negev, Israel |url=https://16df467f-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/labsapir/home/publications/Volis%2CBlecher%26Sapir2010BiodConser.pdf |journal=Biodiversity and Conservation |volume=19 |issue= 11|pages=3157–3169 |doi=10.1007/s10531-010-9883-0 |bibcode=2010BiCon..19.3157V |s2cid=35418285 |access-date=23 April 2016}} bloom in late March or April.{{cite web |first=Prof. Avinoam |last=Danin |title=Iris atrofusca Baker |url=http://flora.org.il/en/plants/iriato/ |publisher=flora.org.il (Flora of Israel Online) |access-date=12 April 2016}}
The fragrant flowers are {{convert|10|-|15|cm|0|abbr=on}} in diameter, and come in darker shades ranging through purple brown, reddish-black, black brown, dark brown,{{cite web |title=Top 10 places to see Israel's spring flowers |first=Abigail Klein |last=Leichman |date=26 February 2014 |url=http://www.israel21c.org/top-10-places-to-see-israels-spring-flowers/ |publisher=israel21c.org |access-date=14 April 2016}} dark lilac, and dark purple, although a yellow flowered form can be found. It is thought to be the darkest-coloured iris in Israel, and in Jordan is often called 'black iris'.{{cite web|title=Iris atrofusca ~ Jal'ad Iris|url=http://royalbotanicgarden.org/plants/iris-atrofusca-jalad-iris|website=royalbotanicgarden.org|publisher=Royal Botanic Garden, Jordan|access-date=3 May 2016}}{{cite web |title=Judean Iris |first=Margarita |last=Orlova |date=7 March 2015 |url=http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/1542576011 |publisher=projectnoah.org |access-date=14 April 2016}}
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'.{{cite book |first=Claire |last=Austin |title=Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia |year=2005 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-0881927306 }} The wide falls are recurved, and measure
{{convert|6|-|7.5|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3|-|4.5|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide. They have a broad, brownish-black or black signal patch in the middle. In the middle of the falls, extending from the claw (the narrow section of petal near the stem), there is a row of short hairs (velvet-like,) called the 'beard', which is brown-black, light brown, or yellow, tipped with brown. The paler standards are incurved, and measure up to {{convert|7|-|9|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3|-|4.5|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide. They have heavy veining, in black,) and many reddish-black dots. The flowers are smaller than those of Iris haynei (another Oncocyclus section iris).
Iris atrofusca has the longest floral longevity of 6.7 (± 1.3 days), compared to Iris atropurpurea and Iris hermona, (other 'Oncocyclus Section' irises from Israel).{{cite journal |last1=Sapir |first1=Y. |last2=Shmida |first2= A. |last3=Ne'eman |first3=G. |date=24 January 2005 |title=Pollination of Oncocyclus irises by Night-Sheltering Male Bees |url=http://research.haifa.ac.il/~biology/neeman/Publications/D%2048.%20Sapir%20et%20al.%202005.%20Pollination%20of%20Oncocyclus%20Irises.%20Plant%20Biology.pdf
|journal=Plant Biol. |volume=7 |issue= 4|pages=417–424 |doi= 10.1055/s-2005-837709 |pmid=16025415 |s2cid=260252293 |access-date=3 May 2016}}
It has style arms which are {{convert|5|cm|0|abbr=on}} long, greenish yellow and spotted with purple, a white anthers, oblong-shaped ovary, short filaments, and a {{convert|5|cm|0|abbr=on}} long cylindrical green perianth tube. After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule, which opens up with three parts, and holds many seeds inside.
A study in 2005 found that pollen is transferred between flowers by night-sheltering solitary male bees, which are the only known pollinators of the plants.
=Genetics=
Taxonomy
Image:אירוס שחום בנחל תקוע Iris atrofusca Baker Iris loessicola.jpg Wadi nature reserve, Palestine]]
The Latin specific epithet atrofusca refers to atrofusca, from 'ater' meaning "black, sable, dark, gloomy", and 'fuscus' meaning "dark, dusky, swarthy or very dark”.David Gledhill {{Google books|NJ6PyhVuecwC|The Names of Plants|page=61}}
Iris atrofusca is commonly known as 'Judean Iris',{{cite web |title=Judaen Iris |url=http://www.tiuli.com/flower_info.asp?lng=eng&flower_id=92 |publisher=tiuli.com |access-date=12 April 2016}}{{cite web |title=Photo : Israel. Spring near Tel Arad National Park. Judean Iris (Iris atrofusca) |url=https://www.alltravels.com/israel/southern/kderat-a-zana/photos/current-photo-83740553 |publisher=alltravels.com |access-date=16 April 2016}}{{cite web |title=Iris atrofusca |url=http://www.wildflowers.co.il/english/plant.asp?ID=1020 |publisher=wildflowers.co.il |access-date=5 April 2016}} 'Dark brown Iris', or 'Gilead Iris',{{cite web |title=Salt flora |url=http://www.triptojordan.com/content/salt-flora#Iris |publisher=triptojordan.com |access-date=12 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402042620/http://www.triptojordan.com/content/salt-flora#Iris |archive-date=2 April 2016 |url-status=dead }} or 'Jil'ad Iris', or 'Jal'ad Iris'. It is occasionally called the 'Negev Iris',Michael Evenari, Leslie Shanan and Naphtali Tadmor {{Google books|Weqy__d__xAC|The Negev: The Challenge of a Desert|page=275}} although normally that name is used for Iris mariae.
In Hebrew, it is known as אִירוּס שָׁחוּם . In Arabic, it is common known as 'Sawsan Gilead'. It is written in Arabic as سوسن جلعاد – كحيلة الكلبI . It is known in Finnish as "Suklaakurjenmiekka".{{cite web |title=Iris atrofusca |url=http://eol.org/pages/5866411/overview |publisher=eol.org |access-date=13 April 2016}}
Iris atrofusca was first published and described by John Gilbert Baker in Gardeners' Chronicle (Gard. Chron.) in 1893, and in the Botanical Magazine (Bot. Mag.) in 1894 as Iris atropurpurea var. atrofusca Baker.{{cite web |title=Iridaceae Iris atrofusca Baker |url=http://ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:438371-1 |publisher=ipni.org (International Plant Names Index) |access-date=12 April 2016}} In 1896, within Flora Palaestina, vol. 4, by Naomi Feinbrun, the species gained Iris jordana, Iris atropurpurea var. gileadensis, Iris hauranensis and Iris loessicola as synonyms. It was listed on List of native plants of Flora Palaestina (E-O). It was for many years also found as Iris haynei, to which it is closely related. Iris atrofusca is an accepted name by the RHS and it was last listed in the RHS Plant Finder in 1999.{{cite web|title=Iris atrofusca |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/9211/Iris-atrofusca/Details |publisher=rhs.org.uk| access-date=13 April 2016}} It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated on 2 December 2004.{{cite web |title=Taxon: Iris atrofusca Baker |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?428623 |publisher=ars-grin.gov (Germplasm Resources Information Network) |access-date=13 April 2016}} It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life, and in the Catalogue of Life.{{cite web |title=Iris atrofusca |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/111587404 |publisher=catalogueoflife.org |access-date=13 April 2016}}
Distribution and habitat
Image:Iris atrofusca in Beer Sheva trail.jpg trail in Israel]]
This species is native to temperate Western Asia.
=Range=
It is found in Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Territories. (near Nablus,{{cite web |editor1-last=Radford |editor1-first=E.A. |editor2-last=Catullo |editor2-first=G. |editor3-last=de Montmollin |editor3-first=B. |title=Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region, Priority sites for conservation |date=2011 |url=http://ichn.iec.cat/ECCF/Documents%20d'inter%C3%A8s/Important%20Plant%20Areas%20(IPA)/IPA's%20dels%20pa%C3%AFsos%20mediterranis.pdf |publisher=IUCN |access-date=10 October 2016}}) It is spread from the deserts of Samaria, Judean Desert, Negev Desert, the Beit Shan Valley, south Golan Heights, Jordan Valley, and the valley of the Dead Sea.
=Habitat=
It grows in the arid desert, dry hills, rocky/stony slopes, loessial plains, semi-steppe shrublands, or even agricultural fields. In the Arad valley, the plant has been under cultivation for several thousands of years.
It can be found at an altitude of {{convert|-250|to|300|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.
==Synecology==
It can be found growing naturally with phlomis, echinops and Eremostachys laciniata.
Conservation
File:Iris atrofusca near Tel Arad.JPG, Israel]]
It is a rare and endangered species, due to populations being threatened by over-grazing, and human development including roads and settlements. It is listed in the Israeli Red Data Book (Shmida and Polak, 2008) as 'rare' in the Samarian Desert, and also the northern Negev. It is listed as 'very rare' in the Judean Mountains and the Negev Highlands. In Israel, there is only one national park, Tel Arad National Park, that has natural population of the iris (Volis, Blecher and Sapir, 2010, Biodiversity and Conservation).
Cultivation
It is hardy in places with a dry summer and full sun. It prefers to grow in well-drained soils.
'Oncocyclus Section' Irises are easier to grow than 'Regelia Section' Irises, but should be preferably grown under glass (in frames), to protect the irises from excess moisture (especially during winter times), and also to ensure the shallow planted rhizomes get the best temperatures during the growing season. They can be grown in pots, especially in deep ones known as 'long toms', but they need re-potting every 2 years and also extra feeding. Watering is one of the most critical aspects of iris cultivation. The growth starts in October and should start with careful watering; water should never be poured directly on the rhizomes.{{cite web |title=The Plantsman Buckshaw Gardens, Holwell, Sherborne, Dorset. Oncocyclus, Regelia and Reglio-cyclus Irises |url=http://files.srgc.net/archibald/Plantsmen/Oncocyclus_Regelia_Regelio-Cyclus_Irises.pdf |access-date=18 March 2020}}
=Propagation=
=Hybrids and cultivars=
Toxicity
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves). If mistakenly ingested, it can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Handling the plant may also cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.David G Spoerke and Susan C. Smolinske{{Google books|a7-f66fRfzQC|Toxicity of Houseplants|page=236}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Sources
- Aldén, B., S. Ryman & M. Hjertson Våra kulturväxters namn – ursprung och användning. Formas, Stockholm (Handbook on Swedish cultivated and utility plants, their names and origin). 2009 (Vara kulturvaxt namn)
- Dorman, Melnik, Sapir, and Volis. 2009 Factors affecting dormancy of Oncocyclus iris seeds. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences 57 (4) : 329–333.
- Mathew, B. The Iris. 1981 (Iris) 44.
- Sapir, Y. et al. 2002. Morphological variation of the Oncocyclus irises (Iris: Iridaceae) in the southern Levant Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 139:369–382.
- Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan Flora palaestina. 1966– (F Palest)
External links
- [http://isachar-photography.photoshelter.com/gallery/Iris-Atrofusca-in-the-Negev/G0000ioaqvExwI.s/C00003merTPMWv2A Images of the iris in the Negev Desert in Israel ]
- [http://www.balandin.net/Flora/Flora-nat-I.htm Listed as part of the Flora of Israel ]
{{Commons category-inline|Iris atrofusca}}
{{Wikispecies-inline|Iris atrofusca}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q6796737}}
Category:Plants described in 1893