Iris purpureobractea

It has broad rhizomes that have secondary roots,{{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 }} that can form clumps of plants.{{cite book| first1=Roger | last1=Phillips | first2=Martyn | last2=Rix | title=Perennials Vol. 1 | page=190 | year=1991 | publisher=Pan Books Ltd. | isbn=9780330327749}}

It has straight or slightly falcate (or sickle shaped), grey-green leaves,{{cite web |first=Bob |last=Pries |title=(SPEC) Iris purpureobractea Mathew & Baytop |date=12 June 2014 |url=http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/Spec/SpecPurpureobractea |publisher=wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society) |access-date=23 November 2015}} although the base of the leaves is purple violet. They can grow up to between {{convert|10|-|25|cm|0|abbr=on}} long, and between 1.5 and 2.5 cm wide. Similar to Iris junonia, it is herbaceous, the leaves die in the winter, when they re-grow in the spring.

It has a slender stem or peduncle, that can grow up to between {{convert|20|-|50|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall.{{cite web|title=Iris purpureobractea |url=http://www.agaclar.org/agac.asp?id=366 |publisher=agaclar.org |language=tr |access-date=23 November 2015}}{{cite web |title=Iris purpureobracteata (pure yellow form) |url=https://www.rareplants.es/shop/uploads/Html/Iris-purpureobracteata-pure-yellow-form_6872_1.htm |publisher=rareplants.es |access-date=24 November 2015}}{{cite web |title=Endemic Turkish Plants |url=http://www.explorecomenius.eu/The_Summary_of_the_Endemics.pdf |publisher=explorecomenius.eu |access-date=24 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062721/http://www.explorecomenius.eu/The_Summary_of_the_Endemics.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} It is normally taller than the foliage.

The stem has several branches,{{cite web |first=Tom |last=Waters |title=A Hybridizer's Guide to Bearded Species |date=October 2010 |url=http://www.telp.com/irises/species.htm |publisher=telp.com |access-date=26 September 2015}}{{cite web |first=D. |last=Kramb |title=Iris purpureobractea |date=5 September 2004 |url=http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Iris-purpureobractea |publisher=signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America) |access-date=23 November 2015}} (or pedicels), normally 2–4, the lower branches are {{convert|2|-|6|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and the upper branches are sessile.

The stem has obtuse or rounded, inflated,{{cite web |title=Iris purpureobractea |url=http://hillviewrareplants.com.au/plant/iris-purpureobractea |publisher=hillviewrareplants.com |access-date=23 November 2015}} spathes that are very heavily stained purple.{{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}} Hence, the name Iris purpureobractea. They can grow up to {{convert|2|-|4.5|cm|0|abbr=on}} long.

The stems (and the many branches) hold up to 8 flowers, in spring, between March or April, to

May, or (rarely) July.

The fragrant flowers, are {{convert|4|-|8|cm|0|abbr=on}} in diameter. They are variable in colour, which come in shades of blue or yellow. The blue ranges from purple, lavender, ice-blue, and pale blue. The yellow ranges from white, off-white, to pale yellow, straw yellow, tan, pale brown. There are occasionally blended or bi-toned flowers, such as white and purple forms. The blue forms, have a darker centre patch, or veined with purple. The yellow forms can be pale yellow with greenish-brown veining, they also have bracts that are not so intensely purple stained.British Iris Society (1997){{Google books|pL6uPLo7l2gC|A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation|page=48-49}}

The yellow forms of Iris junonia,Kelly Norris {{Google books|6YwFZmzxgecC|A Guide to Bearded Irises: Cultivating the Rainbow for Beginners and Enthusiasts|page=344}} and yellow forms of Iris imbricata are similar in form to the yellow forms of Iris purpureobractea, also forms of Iris germanica in the Taurus mountains near Egirdir are very similar to the iris.Basak Gardner & Chris Gardner {{Google books|08KbBQAAQBAJ|Flora of the Silk Road: The Complete Illustrated Guide|page=68}}

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=0881927309 }}{{rp|17}}

The falls are obovate shaped, cuneate (wedge shaped) at the base, they are {{convert|5.2|-|6|cm|0|abbr=on}} long, and between 2.8–3.5 cm wide. In the centre of the fall, is a strip of thick hairs (the beard), which is white tipped with yellow, or orange. The standards are obovate (shaped) with a narrow claw (section of the petal closest to the stem), they are {{convert|5|-|6.5|cm|0|abbr=on}} long, and between 2.5–4 cm wide.

It has style branch, that is 3–4 cm long and 1.2–1.6 cm wide.

After the iris has flowered, it produces an oblong seed capsule, that is {{convert|5|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and 1.5 cm wide.

In 1989, a karyological study was carried out on 4 iris species in Turkey; including Iris junonia Schott et Kotschy ex Schott, Iris purpureobractea B. Matthew et T.Baytop, Iris taochia Woronow ex Grossh., and Iris schachtii. It found the chromosome counts of the iris species. It was also found that Iris purpureobractea has a complex karyology and plant morphology.{{cite journal |last=Koca |first=F. |date=1989 |title=Karyological studies on four endemic iris spp section iris in Turkey |url=http://eurekamag.com/research/007/498/007498204.php |journal=Istanbul Universitesi Eczacilik Fakultesi Mecmuasi |volume=25 |pages=1–16 |access-date=24 November 2015}}

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.{{rp|18}}

Iris purpureobractea is a diploid, and has a count of 2n = 48,

It is also recorded as 2n=24,48,49 and 72.

The Latin specific epithet purpureobractea refers to the purple bracts of the iris.D. Gledhill {{Google books|NJ6PyhVuecwC|The Names of Plants|page=321}}

The plant was collected on Honaz Dag, by Professor Asuman Baytop of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University. Asuman was Turhan Baytop's wife and fellow botanist.{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Mathew |title=First lady of the crocus, The botanist Asuman Baytop (1920–2015) |url=http://www.cornucopia.net/magazine/articles/first-lady-of-the-crocus/ |publisher=cornucopia.net |access-date=28 November 2015}}

It was first published and described (with a colour photograph) by Mathew and Baytop in 'The Garden' (published in London) Vol.107, issue11 page 445-448 in 1982.{{cite web |title=Iridaceae Iris purpureobractea B.Mathew & T.Baytop |url=http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=900130-1 |publisher=ipni.org (International Plant Names Index) |access-date=23 November 2015}}{{GRIN | access-date=23 November 2015}}

It is a bearded iris, that was classified as belonging to the subgenus of 'Iris subgenus Iris', (which was formerly known as Section Pogoniris (Spach) Baker).

It is a relative of Iris junonia, another bearded iris in the mountains of Adana and Içel provinces of Turkey. It closely resembles a miniature tall bearded iris.

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 purpureobractea |url=http://eol.org/pages/5866924/overview |publisher=eol.org |access-date=24 November 2015}}

Iris purpureobractea is a 'tentatively' accepted name by the RHS.Last-listed in the RHS Plant Finder in 1999

Tentatively accepted name {{cite web|title=Iris purpureobractea |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/9339/Iris-purpureobractea/Details |publisher=www.rhs.org.uk| access-date=23 November 2015}}

It is native to temperate Asia.

It is an endemic,{{cite journal |last=İkİncİ |first=Nursel |date=2011 |title=Gamma-diversity of vascular plant taxa of the surrounding of Lake Sünnet (Bolu, NW Turkey) compared with other regions in Bolu |url=https://www.academia.edu/6101861 |journal=Biological Diversity and Conservation |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=107–121 |access-date=24 November 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} found in north, northwest, western and south-western, and Turkey (within the provinces of Denizli, Mugla, Sakararya, Usak and in Bolu Province). It is also found in the geographical region of the Eastern Anatolia Region, where it is found with Iris junonia, Iris taochia and Iris schachtii.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019|reason=removed citation to predatory publisher content}} It is also found on Honaz Mountain in Denizli Province.

It grows on the mountains (made of volcanic rock), in scrub lands, on rock slopes, on cliff sides, or on plateaus, within open glades in forests (made up of cedar and pine trees).

They can be found at an altitude of {{convert|60|-|1600|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.

Within the open glades in forests in Turkey, Iris purpureobractea grows with other bulbs such as, colchicums, snowdrops, Tulipa armena, Tulipa undulatifolia, Fritillaria whittallii and Fritillaria elwesii,{{cite journal |first=Fleur |last=Pavlidis |date=June 2010 |title=Hunting for Wild Flowers in south-West Turkey |url=http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/ex-turkey.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003140639/http://mediterraneangardensociety.org/ex-turkey.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 3, 2014 |journal=The Mediterranean Garden |volume=61 |access-date=23 November 2015 }} Sternbergia candida, Hyacinthella siirtensis (Siirt hyacinth), Iris xanthospuria and crocuses, (including Crocus baytopiorum (Baytop's crocus), Crocus abantensis (Abant crocus), Crocus antalyensis (Antalya crocus), Crocus asumania (Asuman crocus), Crocus watti (the Watts crocus)).{{cite web |first=Brian Frederick |last=Mathew |title=Discover Plants of Turkey |url=http://obanettr.org/default.asp?baslik=turkiyenin_bitkilerini_kesfetmek&page=2&a=167&b=1&c=167 |publisher=obanettr.org |access-date=24 November 2015}}

It also grows with Paeonia mascula, under pine trees (Pinus), oak trees and Cedrus libani (cedar of Lebanon).

It is a rare plant, with only a few wild colonies of plants, especially around the provinces of Denizli and Mugla in Turkey.

It is listed in the IUCN Red List as 'least threatened'.

It is hardy to close to −15 °C, which means it is hardy enough to grow in France.{{cite web |title=January 2014 – A talk on Mediterranean geophytes by John Fielding |url=http://www.mediterraneangardensocietyfrance.com/baRpt2014n01.htm |publisher=mediterraneangardensocietyfrance.com |access-date=24 November 2015}} It prefers to grow in well-drained soils, in locations in full sun.

It can be grown in rock gardens, but can be damaged by slugs and aphids.

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.

It can be used in hybridization, used like Iris aphylla, except that it has yellow pigmentation and purple bract/spathe colouring. It can be crossed with various other bearded irises.

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}}

In Mozambique, released in 17 June 2002, as part of a set of postage stamps about flora, there was a stamp that shows an illustration of the iris.{{cite web |title=Country / Post Mozambique |url=http://www.wnsstamps.post/en/stamps/MZ178.02 |publisher=wnsstamps.post |access-date=24 November 2015}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• Davis, P. H., ed. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 38.

• [http://www.asianflora.com/Iridaceae/Iris-purpureobractea.htm Three images of the iris in Turkey]
• [http://faaxaal.forumactif.com/t3526-photo-d-iridacee-iris-purpureobractea Image ]

{{Wikispecies-inline|Iris purpureobractea}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q15572425}}

purpureobractea

Category:Plants described in 1982

Category:Garden plants

Category:Flora of Central Asia

Category:Flora of Turkey