Iris marsica
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Iris Marsica 1.jpg
|genus = Iris
|display_parents = 2
|parent = Iris sect. Iris
|species = marsica
|authority = I.Ricci and Colas.
|synonyms = None known
|synonyms_ref = {{cite web |title=Iris marsica I.Ricci & Colas. is an accepted name
|date= 23 March 2013 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-322114 |publisher=theplantlist.org (The Plant List)|access-date=23 October 2015}}
|status=DD
|status_system=IUCN3.1
}}
Iris marsica is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the Apennine Mountains, in Italy. It has glaucous, sickle-shaped or curved, light green leaves, slender stem with 2 branches, and 3 violet, light blue violet, dark violet, and dark purple flowers. It was only found and described since 1973, and is not yet in general cultivation. It was once thought to be a form of Iris germanica, but has different morphological characteristics and different chromosomal differences.
Description
It is similar in form to Iris germanica,{{cite book |first=Claire |last=Austin |title=Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia |year=2005 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-0881927306 }}{{rp|141}}{{cite web |first=D. |last=Kramb |title=Iris marsica |date=5 September 2004 |url=http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Iris-marsica |publisher=signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America) |access-date=23 October 2015}}{{cite web |title=Chapter I Rhizomatous Iris (part 2) |url=http://irisbotanique.over-blog.com/article-chapitre-i-les-iris-rhizomateux-partie-2-123788250.h |publisher=irisbotanique.over-blog.com |access-date=28 October 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} but it has more curved leaves (or sickle-shaped,{{cite book |first=Nigel |last=Service |title=The 1988 Iris Year Book |year=1988 |pages=94–95}}) greener, and longer leaves, the stem is less glaucous,British Iris Society (1997) {{Google books|pL6uPLo7l2gC|A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation|page=41}} and it has less scarious (membranous) spathes.
It has a thick rhizome,{{cite web |title=Iris Marsica |url=http://www.parcomajella.it/natura/flora-del-parco/scopri-le-specie-piu-interessanti/giaggiolo-della-marsica/ |language=it |publisher=parcomajella.it |access-date=23 October 2015}} with many stoloniferous and fibrous branches. The rhizomes grow at ground level.
It has herbaceous, (or deciduous), falcate (sickle-shaped), light green and slightly glaucous leaves. They can grow up to {{convert|30|cm|0|abbr=on}} long. They often have 2–3 basal (rising from the rhizome) leaves, with one sheathing the stem.
It has a flattened stem, or peduncle, that can grow up to between {{convert|30|-|65|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall.{{rp|141}}{{cite web |title=Iris Marsica |url= http://www.naturgarten-oase.de/ |publisher=naturgarten-oase.de |language=de |access-date=28 October 2015}}
It has 2 short branches, (or pedicels), the lowest branch is similar in length to the bract. The other branch, appears from the midpoint on the stem.
The stem has 2–3 green, marked with purple, slightly inflated, rounded, spathes (leaves of the flower bud). They are scarious (along the top part of the leaf), at blooming time.
The stem (and the branches) hold up to 3 flowers, in early season,{{rp|141}} in April, May, or between May and June.{{cite web |first=Alain |last=Franco |title=(SPEC) Iris marsica Ricci & Colasante |date=17 November 2014 |url=http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/Spec/SpecMarsica |publisher=wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society)| access-date=23 October 2015}}{{cite web |title=The National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise: the flora and fauna |url=http://www.villalago-abruzzo.com/villalago_flora_fauna_PNALM.htm |publisher=villalago-abruzzo.com |access-date=28 October 2015}}{{cite web |title=The National Park of Abruzzo |url=http://www.goingthroughitaly.com/558/the-national-park-of-abruzzo/ |publisher=goingthroughitaly.com |access-date=28 October 2015}}
The slightly fragrant,{{rp|141}} flowers come in shades of violet, light blue violet, dark violet,{{rp|141}} and dark purple. It sometimes has bi-toned flowers.
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}} The falls are obovate or cuneate (wedge shaped), and {{convert|7.6|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and 4.5 cm wide.
They have dark veining on the haft (near to the stem), They also sometimes curl under.{{rp|141}} In the centre, of the falls is a 'beard', or line of white hairs, tipped with yellow. The standards are elliptic shaped, with a narrow haft, and {{convert|7.6|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and 3.8 cm wide.
It has 3.8 cm long perianth tube, the style branch is normally, white with violet crest. The crest is toothed (dentate). It has white or blue filaments, and pale cream pollen. It has a triangular in section ovary.
After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule, which has not been described.
=Biochemistry=
In 2000, 11 iris species were studied and their leaf flavonoid, isoflavonoid and xanthone (chemical) constituents were analysed in order to investigate their phylogeny. Iris marsica is thought to have originated from Iris pseudopumila Tineo (chromosomal count of 2n= 16) x Iris variegata L. (2n = 24) but other possible parents are Iris pallida Lam., Iris cengialti Kern. (Terpin et al. 1996),Iris illyrica Tomm. (2n = 24) and Iris reichenbachii Heuff. (2n = 24).{{cite journal |last=Williams |first=C.A |last2=Harborne |first2=J.B. |last3=Colasante |first3=M. |date=2000 |title=The pathway of chemical evolution in bearded iris species based on flavonoid and xanthone patterns |url=http://ojs.uniroma1.it/index.php/Annalidibotanica/article/download/9062-9611-1-PB%20(3).pdf |journal=Annali di Botanica |volume=58 |pages=51–54 |access-date=28 October 2015 |archive-date=23 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823015841/http://ojs.uniroma1.it/index.php/Annalidibotanica/article/download/9062-9611-1-PB%20(3).pdf |url-status=dead }}
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 a chromosome count: 2n=40, it was counted by Colasante & Sauer in 1993.
The chromosomal count of 2n=40 is the same as Iris setina, Iris bicapitata, Iris lutescens, Iris relicta and Iris revoluta.{{cite journal |last=Colasante |first=M. |last2=Vosa |first2=C.G. |date=2000 |title=Iris:Allocyclic segments as Chromosome markers? |url=http://bib03.caspur.it/ojspadis/index.php/Annalidibotanica/article/viewFile/9071/9011 |journal=Annali di Botanica |volume=58 |pages=127–134 |access-date=28 October 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Taxonomy
It has the common name of 'Marsican iris'.{{cite web |title=The Abruzzo National Park |url=http://www.opionline.it/pna_en.html |publisher=opionline.it |access-date=28 October 2015}}Luciano Di Gregorio{{Google books|BtoEOVpoxLAC|Bradt Abruzzo}} {{rp|275}}
The Latin specific epithet marsica refers to Monti Marsicani (a mountain range) in Abruzzo, Italy.
It was first published and described by Ignazio Ricci (1922–1986) and Maria Antonietta Colasante in 'Annali di botanica' Vol.32 page218, in 1973 (published in 1974),{{cite web |title=Iridaceae Iris marsica I.Ricci & Colas. |url=http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=438855-1 |publisher=ipni.org (International Plant Names Index) |access-date=23 October 2015}}{{GRIN | access-date=23 October 2015}} published in Rome, with 14 colour illustrations.
It was later published in the 'Bulletin of the American Iris Society' Vol.292 on pages 82–85 in January 1994.
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated on 3 December 2004.
It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life.{{cite web |title=Iris marsica |url=http://eol.org/pages/5866792/overview |publisher=eol.org |access-date=23 October 2015}}
Iris marsica is an accepted name by the RHS.{{cite web|title=Iris marsica |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/22517/Iris-marsica/Details |publisher=www.rhs.org.uk| access-date=29 October 2015}}
Distribution and habitat
It is native to South-eastern Europe.
=Range=
It is endemic to Italy,{{rp|141}} within the regions of Umbria, Marche, Lazio, Molise and Abruzzo.{{cite iucn |first=T. |last=Abeli |title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T162141A5548538 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T162141A5548538.en |year=2011 }}
It has geographic range of {{convert|4083|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, which includes the Apennine Mountains, Monti Simbruini (with Iris sambucina (a synonym of Iris germanica L.) and Iris chameiris (a synonym of Iris lutescens Lam.)),{{cite web |first=Francesco |last=Ferreri |title=Three queens flora Simbruini |date=4 June 2014 |url=http://www.orizzontisimbruini.com/regine-flora-simbruini/ |publisher=orizzontisimbruini.com |access-date=28 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203140122/http://www.orizzontisimbruini.com/regine-flora-simbruini/ |archive-date=3 February 2016 }} and
It is listed in a checklist of Vascular Flora in Italy, with Iris albicans, Iris bicapitata, Iris foetidissima, Iris germanica, Iris marsica, Iris pallida, Iris planifolia, Iris pseudacorus, Iris pseudopumila, Iris relicta, Iris revoluta Iris setina, Iris sibirica and Iris xiphium.{{cite web |editor1-last=Conti |editor1-first=Fabio |editor2-last=Abbate |editor2-first=Giovanna Abbate |editor3-last=Alessandrini |editor3-first=Alessandro |display-editors=3 |editor4-last=Blasi |editor4-first=Carlo |title=An Annotated Checklist Of The Italian Vascular Flora |date=May 2005 |url=http://lnx.ondeweb.net/ccb2/uploaded/1/a005d397abc62c548e09f451fa3045b6___56B-_CHECKLIST_FLORA_ITALIANA_(2005).pdf |publisher=lnx.ondeweb.net |access-date=30 October 2015 |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331074538/http://lnx.ondeweb.net/ccb2/uploaded/1/a005d397abc62c548e09f451fa3045b6___56B-_CHECKLIST_FLORA_ITALIANA_(2005).pdf |url-status=dead }}
It is also listed as endemic species of the Apennines with Aquilegia magellensis, Centaurea scannensis, Jonopsidium savianum, Goniolimon italicum, Astragalus aquilanus and Achillea luncana.Franco Pedrotti {{Google books|eL7_zp4mqhYC|Plant and Vegetation Mapping (2004)|page=32}}
=Habitat=
It grows on the dry grasslands, mountain pastures, and scrub lands.
Conservation
Iris marsica has only been recorded from a limited number of locations, about 12 localities have a stable population. Most (10), are within the Abruzzo National Park.
It is at risk of extinction, due to the threat of collection (from the wild).
It is listed on the IUCN Red List of Plants of Italy, on both the national and regional sections, as 'lower risk (LR).
It is now listed as a 'strictly protected' flora species.Council of Europe Staff {{Google books|kuPFvV668EgC|Explanatory Report Concerning the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1996)|page=42}} It is protected by the EU Habitats Directive (Annex IV) and the Berne Convention (Annexe I) 1979.Council of Europe (Editors) {{Google books|EsWT8Ukcq48C|Biodiversity and Climate Change: Reports and Guidance Developed under the Bern Convention (2012), Volume 2|page=212}}
3 records are listed on Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
In 2011, it was listed on the European Red List of Vascular Plants of the IUCN as 'Data Deficient' (DD).{{cite web |first=Melanie |last=Bilz |first2=Shelagh P. |last2=Kell |first3=Nigel |last3=Maxted |first4=Richard V. |last4=Lansdown |title=European Red List of Vascular Plants |date=2011 |url=http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist/downloads/European_vascular_plants.pdf |publisher=ec.europa.eu (Publications Office of the European Union) |access-date=29 August 2015}}
Cultivation
It is hardy.
It prefers situations in well-drained soils in full sun.
It can be grown on slopes, and can be grown in similar situations as other bearded irises.
It is not regularly available for sale, but only cultivated by iris collectors.
Specimens can be seen in 'Michele Tenore Majella Botanical Garden',{{rp|260}} (also known as 'Giardino Botanico della Majella') situated within the
scree slopes section of the garden.{{cite web |title=Botanical Garden Michele Tenore |url=http://www.italianbotanicalheritage.com/it/scheda.php?struttura=938 |publisher=italianbotanicalheritage.com|access-date=28 October 2015}}
=Propagation=
Irises can generally be propagated by division,{{cite web |title=How to divide iris rhizomes |url=http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/propagating/how-to-divide-iris-rhizomes/169.html |publisher=gardenersworld.com |access-date=12 October 2015}} or by seed growing.
Toxicity
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. 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}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 31.
- Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea.
External links
- [http://www.mgflower.altervista.org/irismarsica.html Has an image of the iris in flower]
- [http://www.actaplantarum.org/flora/flora_info.php?id=4208 Has a map of Italy, where the flower can be located and several images of the flowers]
{{Commons category-inline|Iris marsica}}
{{Wikispecies-inline|Iris marsica}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15571488}}