Iris attica
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Iris attica (17023278349).jpg
|genus = Iris
|display_parents = 2
|parent = Iris sect. Iris
|species = attica
|authority = Boiss. & Held. Boissier and Heldreich
|synonyms = {{Species list
| Iris pumila subsp attica |(Boiss. & Held.) Hayek,James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) {{Google books|CkxWrDqtWLQC|The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification (2011) |page=246}}{{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 web |title=Iris attica |url=http://www.alpine-plants.eu/?406,en_iris-attica |publisher=alpine-plants.eu |access-date=9 September 2015}}
| Iris ochridana | (unknown),{{cite web |first=D. |last=Kramb |title=Iris attica |date=15 July 2003 |url=http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Iris-mandshurica |publisher=signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America) |access-date=5 September 2015}}}}
}}
Iris attica, the Greek iris, is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the mountains of the Balkans in Europe, within the countries of Greece, former Yugoslavia, Turkey and North Macedonia. It has sage green or grey-green leaves, that are sickle-shaped, a stout short stem and 2 variable flowers, in shades from yellow to purple. They have a white or blue beard. It is often called Iris pumila subsp attica, but is classified in most sources, as a separate species, although it is closely related to Iris pumila, as a possible parent plant. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Description
It is similar in form to Iris suaveolens, that also appears with yellow or purple forms.Basak Gardner and Chris Gardner {{Google books|08KbBQAAQBAJ|Flora of the Silk Road: The Complete Illustrated Guide|page=17}}
They are also have flowers in similar colours/shades to Iris pumila,{{cite web |first=Milan |last=Blazek |title=Low iris – Iris pumila |url=http://www.ibotky.cz/clanky/herbar-kosatce/114-kosatec-nizky-iris-pumila.html |publisher=ibotky.cz |access-date=5 September 2015}}{{cite web |title=Iris Rhizomatous Chapter 1 (Part 4) Pumilae |url=http://irisbotanique.over-blog.com/article-chapitre-i-les-iris-rhizomateux-partie-2-105950846.html |publisher=irisbotanique.over-blog.com |access-date=5 September 2015}} as well as the form of the iris,Kelly Norris {{Google books|6YwFZmzxgecC|A Guide to Bearded Irises: Cultivating the Rainbow for Beginners and Enthusiasts|page=123}} but smaller.
It has small rhizomes, that spread out, to form clumps of plants.{{cite web |title=Iris attica |url=http://www.wrightmanalpines.com/plant/iris-attica |publisher=wrightmanalpines.com |access-date=5 September 2015}}{{cite web |first=Kate |last=Barnard |title=AGS Greece Tour 2011, An Alpine Odyssey |url=http://www.merlin-trust.org.uk/Assets/reports/535%20Kate%20Barnard.pdf |publisher=merlin-trust.org.uk |access-date=9 September 2015}}
It has glaucous,{{cite web |title=Iris attica Boiss. & Heldr. in Boiss. 1850 |url=http://www.greekflora.gr/el/flowers/0315/Iris-attica |publisher=greekflora.gr |access-date=9 September 2015}} sage-green,{{cite web |title=Iris attica |url=http://www.dancingoaks.com/home/dok/page_2389/iris_attica.html |publisher=dancingoaks.com |access-date=5 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516020613/http://www.dancingoaks.com/home/dok/page_2389/iris_attica.html |archive-date=16 May 2015 |url-status=dead }} or green grey leaves. They can grow up to between {{convert|4|-|8|cm|0|abbr=on}} long, and 4-7mm wide. They are lanceolate with a sharp curvature, or sickle shaped.
It has a stout stem, that can grow up to between {{convert|5|-|10|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall.{{cite web |first=Terry |last=Laurin |title=(SPEC) Iris attica Boiss. & Held. |date=8 October 2014 |url=http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/Spec/SpecAttica |publisher=wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society)| access-date=5 September 2015}} Although, very occasionally they can reach 15 cm tall.{{cite web |title=Species Iris, Iris pumila subsp. attica |url=http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/102468/#b |publisher=davesgarden.com |access-date=5 September 2015}}{{cite web |title=Iris attica |url=http://www.edrom-nurseries.co.uk/shop/pc/Iris-attica-p9531.htm |publisher=edrom-nurseries.co.uk |access-date=5 September 2015}}
The stems hold 2 terminal (top of stem) flowers, blooming in spring,{{cite web |title=Flora 1, Plants of Greek Myth |url=http://www.theoi.com/Flora1.html |publisher=theoi.com |access-date=9 September 2015}} or early summer, between March,Lawrence Durrell {{Google books|teuK_ISSwncC|The Greek Islands (1977)|page=227}} April, May, or late as June. The slender,{{cite book |first=Claire |last=Austin |title=Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia |year=2005 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-0881927306 }}{{rp|184}} flowers are {{convert|3.5|-|4.5|cm|0|abbr=on}} in diameter, come in various shades,{{cite web |title=Garden Bearded Irises |url=http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/GardenBeardedIrises |publisher=pacificbulbsociety.org |access-date=5 September 2015}} from yellow to purple.{{rp|118}} Including whitish, pale yellow, greenish yellow,{{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}}{{rp|118}} lemon yellow, mustard yellow, to blue, blue-purple, violet-blue, and mauve shades.
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'.{{rp|17}} In the centre of the falls, is a beard. Which can vary in colour, from white through to blue,{{rp|184}} or bright blue.
Some flowers are bi-coloured. The yellow forms have a brown signal patch on the falls.{{rp|69}} The purple or violet forms have contrasting spots in violet or plum.{{rp|184}} The standards are upright.
After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule that has not been described yet.
=Biochemistry=
In 1956, Mitra conducted karyological studies on the samples of specimens that they collected, and stated that Iris pumila (2n = 32) was an amphidiploid of Iris attica Boiss. & Heldr. (2n = 16) and Iris pseudopumila Tineo. (2n = 16).{{cite journal |last=Koca |first=Fehmiye |date=2003 |title=Morpho-anatomical and karyological studies on Iris pumila (Iridaceae) |journal=Bocconea |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=625–639 }}
In 1979, a karyotype analysis study was carried out on Iris attica, Iris mellita (a synonym of Iris suaveolens Boiss. & Reut.) and Iris reichenbachii. It found that Iris attica was 2n=16, both Iris mellita and Iris reichenbachii were 2n = 24.{{cite journal |last1=Sauer |first1=Wilhelm |last2=Leep |first2=Hans Jürgen |date=1979 |title=Karyologische Untersuchungen an anatolischen und südost-europäischen Zwergiris-Sippen: Iris attica, I. mellita und I. reichenbachii (Iridaceae) |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |volume=131 |issue= 1–2|language=de |pages=81–106 |doi= 10.1007/bf00984124|bibcode=1979PSyEv.131...81S |s2cid=474242 }}
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.{{rp|18}}
It has been counted several times; 2n=16 by Simonet, 2n=16 by Randolph in 1954 and 2n=16 Randolph and Mitra in 1956. Then in 1979 by Love.{{cite journal |last=Löve |first=Áskell |date=November 1971 |title=IOPB Chromosome Number Reports XXXIV |jstor=1218605 |journal=Taxon |volume=20 |issue=5 |pages=785–797 |doi= 10.1002/j.1996-8175.1971.tb03208.x}}
It has a published chromosome count of 2n=16.British Iris Society (1997) {{Google books|pL6uPLo7l2gC|A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation}}
Taxonomy
It has the common name of 'Greek Iris'.{{cite web|title=Iris attica |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/21765/Iris-attica/Details |publisher=www.rhs.org.uk| access-date=5 September 2015}}
The Latin specific epithet attica refers to Attica, the former name of Athens in Greece.{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=A.W. |last2=Stearn |first2=William T. |date=1972 |edition=Revised |publication-date=1963 | title= A Gardener's Dictionary of Plant Names | publisher=Cassell and Company | page=50 | isbn=978-0304937219}}Sue Gordon (Editor) {{Google books|6PBHQd-lPWYC|Horticulture - Plant Names Explained: Botanical Terms and Their Meaning|page=31}}
It was first published and described by Edmond Boissier and Theodor von Heldreich in 'Diagnoses Plantarum Orientalium novarum.' (Diagn. Pl. Orient.) Vol.2 Issue 4, on page 91 in 1859.{{GRIN | access-date=5 September 2015}}{{cite web |title=Iris attica Boiss. & Heldr. |date= 23 March 2013 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-321583 |publisher=theplantlist.org (The Plant List)|access-date=5 September 2015}}{{cite book |title=Iridaceae Iris attica Boiss. & Heldr. |url=http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=438375-1 |publisher=ipni.org (International Plant Names Index) |access-date=9 September 2015}}
In 1862, it was published (as Iris attica) in 'Gartenflora' Vol.11 377. 1862 (with a colour illustratation), then in The Gardeners' Chronicle Vol.674 in 1865.
In 1890, Iris pumila subsp. attica was then published by K.Richt. in 'Plantae Europeae' (Pl. Eur.) Vol.1 on page 253.{{cite web |title=Iris pumila subsp. attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) K.Richt. is an accepted name |date=23 March 2013 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-329121 |publisher=theplantlist.org (The Plant List) |access-date=7 September 2015}} This re-classified the species as a subspecies of Iris pumila, as Iris pumila subsp. attica.{{rp|118}}Bob Gibbons {{Google books|cG5FxRp7li8C|Greece (2003)|page=159}}{{cite journal |last1=Shuka |first1=Lulezim |last2=Xhulaj |first2=Murat |date=June 2013 |title=Iris variegata L. and Iris pumila subsp. attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) K.Richt, two new taxa for the flora of Albania |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269401934 |journal=Buletin I Universitetit Shtetëror Të Tiranës. (BSHN) |volume=15 |pages=172–178 |access-date=9 September 2015}}
But some botanists and sources disagreed with this re-classification, and still refer to the species as Iris attica.{{cite web| first=John | last=Moons | title=Canadian Iris Society, CIS newsletter, Winter 2014 Volume 58 Issue 1 |year=2014 | url=http://www.e-clipse.ca/previews/CIS/C-V58N1.pdf | page=13 | publisher=e-clipse.ca (Canadian Iris Society) | access-date=9 September 2015}}
It was verified as Iris attica by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 27 December 2002, then updated on 1 December 2004.
Iris attica is an accepted name by the RHS and listed in the RHS Plant Finder book.
It is listed as Iris pumila ssp. attica in the Encyclopedia of Life.{{cite web |title=Iris cuniculiformis |url=http://eol.org/pages/5866415/overview |publisher=eol.org |access-date=9 September 2015}}
Distribution and habitat
It is native to south eastern Europe.
=Range=
It is found in the Balkans, within the countries of Greece, (including Mount Egaleo,{{cite journal |last=Sarlis |first=George P. |date=3 December 1979 |title=The Flora of Mount Egaleo (Attica, Greece) |url=http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/PHY_20_3_4_0261-0278.pdf |journal=Phyton (Austria) |volume=20 |pages= 261–278 |access-date=9 September 2015}} Delphi, Parnassos, Peloponnese,{{cite web |first=Claire |last=Cockcroft |title=Parnassos and The Peloponnese: Spring Wildflowers of Southern Greece |url=http://www.agc-bc.ca/uploads/images/file_view/Slide_List_for_Parnassos_and_The_Peloponnese.pdf |date=1 April 2010 |publisher=agc-bc.ca |access-date=9 September 2015}} and many other regions of Greece,) former Yugoslavia,{{rp|184}}{{rp|118}} Turkey, and North Macedonia, (including near Ohrid).
In 2013, Iris variegata L. and Iris pumila subsp. attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) K. Richt was found in Albania, during field trips in Prespa National Park and on Pashtriku Mountain in 2006, 2011 and then in 2012.
=Habitat=
It grows on the well drained, sunny, rocky mountainsides. On stony slopes, stony heaths and on rocky ground. It has been found with Fritillaria fleischeriana found growing on areas of rocky limestone amongst scattered juniper trees.
They can be found at an altitude of {{convert|400|-|2100|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.
Conservation
Cultivation
The leaves of Iris attica growing with a species of [[crassula and Dianthus repens|thumb|100px]]
It is hardy to between USDA Zone 3 and Zone 8, or Zone 10.
It is hardy to Zone H2 in Europe (meaning {{convert|-15|to|-20|C|F}}.{{cite web |title=Plant Hardiness |url=http://theseedsite.co.uk/hardiness.html |publisher=theseedsite.co |access-date=3 August 2015}}).
It is thought to be not very hardy in the UK (due to the dampness in winter), so best grown an alpine house or bulb frame,{{rp|184}} or deep pot.{{rp|118}} It is prone to viral diseases, if left in water or overwatered.
It prefers to be grown in well-drained soils, (including gritty loam,) with plenty of aeration. Similar to a scree.
It can tolerate a ph level of between 6.1 and 6.5 (mildly acidic) – 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline).
It prefers a position in full sun, to partial shade.
It has average water needs, during the growing months, but needs a period of summer dormancy (a period of dryness after the blooms have faded).
It can be grown in a rock garden, in crevices or between small stones, or in large troughs.
=Propagation=
It can be propagated by division of the rhizomes or by seed growing. Collecting the seeds from the ripe and dry capsules (after the plant has bloom), they can be grown straight away, or stored.
=Hybrids and cultivars=
In 1995, it was reported by (Whitehouse and Warburton), that Iris pumila (an allotetraploid) is a cross between Iris attica and Iris pseudopumila (another diploid iris).Dan H. Meckenstock {{Google books|otggqXHrZtgC|Breeding Red Irises (The Carotenoids) 2005 |page=117}}
Several cultivars have been created from Iris attica including; 'Attica Parnes', 'Dr. Crenshaw', 'Herrick' and 'Sounion'.
Iris attica crosses (with other irises) include; 'Cap Sounion', 'Chancelot', 'Goldenes Fuellhorn', 'Goldhaube', 'Mama Mia' and 'Nibelungehort'.'
Toxicity
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), can cause stomach pains and vomiting if mistakenly ingested. Handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.David G Spoerke and Susan C. Smolinske {{Google books|a7-f66fRfzQC|Toxicity of Houseplants|page=236}}
Culture
In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, the goddess Persephone and her companion nymphs (the Oceanids along with Artemis and Athena) were gathering flowers such as rose, crocus, violet, iris (also called 'agallis' or ἀγαλλίς (in Greek script),{{cite web |title=ἀγαλλίς |url=http://lsj.translatum.gr/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CE%B3%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AF%CF%82 |publisher=lsj.translatum.gr |access-date=10 September 2015}} lily, larkspur, and hyacinth.R. P. Winnington-Ingram {{Google books|RhE8AAAAIAAJ|Sophocles: An Interpretation (1980)|page=116}} Flowers in a springtime meadow before she was abducted by the god Hades.
It has been suggested that 'agallis' mentioned, was a dwarf iris, (in form to leaf and root shape described,Leonhard Schmitz (Editor) {{Google books|tv3hSAoRakQC|The Classical Museum: A Journal of Philology, and of Ancient History and literature, Volume 5 (1848)|page=60}}) and identified as Iris attica.{{cite web |title=Tag Archives: British Iris Society |url=http://wiebkerost.com/tag/british-iris-society/ |publisher=wiebkerost.com |access-date=10 September 2015}}Umberto Quattrocchi {{Google books|esMPU5DHEGgC |CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific names, Synonyms and Etymology (2012|page=128}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Sources
- Kohlein, Fritz. 1987. Iris
- Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 23–24.
- Randolph, L. F. & J. Mitra. 1959. Karyotypes of Iris pumila and related species. Am. J. Bot. 46:93–102.
- Rechinger, K. H. 1943, Flora Aegaea. (Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, math.-naturw.) 741
- Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea. [= I. pumila subsp. attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) Hayek].
External links
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Iris attica}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBFDpeX_bE8 YouTube video of the Iris]
- [http://www.growingwithplants.com/2011/03/iris-attica-daily-awesome.html Notes and images of the plant growing in a cool greenhouse]
- [http://natura.pblogs.gr/2009/02/iri.html Image of a large clump of iris growing]
- [http://www.greekorchidsociety.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=93&t=6265 Clear images of the white form of Iris attica]
{{Commons category|Iris pumila subsp. attica}}
{{Clear}}
{{Iris subg. Iris}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q21277510}}
Category:Flora of European Turkey
Category:Garden plants of Europe
Category:Plants described in 1859