Iris kobayashii

Iris kobayashii is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Tenuifoliae of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from China. It has slightly twisted leaves, short stems and 1 to 2 purple or blue and yellow flowers.

Iris kobayashii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris subg. Limniris
Section: Iris sect. Limniris
Series: Iris ser. Tenuifoliae
Species:
I. kobayashii
Binomial name
Iris kobayashii
Synonyms[1]

None known

Description

Iris kobayashii has short, tough, woody-like, rhizomes.[2][3] With strong flesh roots underneath.[3] It has yellowish brown sheaths (to the leaves), which are the remains of last seasons growths.[2]

It has linear, slightly twisted (spiral-like), leaves, that are 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long and 2–3 mm wide.[2][3] They have pointed ends.[3]

It has short flowering stems, that grows up to between 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long.[2][4] Sometimes, the stems do not emerge from below ground.[2][3]

It has 2 or 3, green, lanceolate, between 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long and 8–10 mm wide, large spathes (leaves of the flower bud).[2][3]

The stems hold 1 or 2 terminal (top of stem) flowers, blooming in May.[2]

The small flowers are 3–5 cm (1–2 in) in diameter, are purple or blue and yellow, with markings of opposite colours.[2][3] 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'.[5] The falls are narrowly oblanceolate, 3 cm long and 5mm wide. The standards are erect, narrowly oblanceolate, 2 cm long and 2–3mm wide.[2]

It has a 1 cm long pedicel,[2][3] 4–5 cm long and slender perianth tube, 1.5–1.8 cm long stamens, yellow or purple anthers and a 1 cm long ovary. It also has small style branches.[2]

After the iris has flowered, it produces an ellipsoid seed capsule, 2 cm long and 7-8mm wide, with a beaked top and 6 ribs, between June and August.[2]

Taxonomy

It is written as 矮鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as ai yuan wei in China.[2][6]

It has the common name of Dwarf Iris,[7][8][9] or Tiny Iris.[6] Note, that the chinese small iris is Iris lactea .

The Latin specific epithet kobayashii refers to plant collector 'M. Kobayashi'.[10]

It was published and described by Masao Kitagawa in The Journal of Japanese Botany ix. Pages246-250 in 1933.[11][3]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Iris kobayashii is native to temperate areas of China.[6]

Range

It is found in the province of southern Liaoning,[2][6][12] northeastern China,[4] and Manchuria.[3]

Habitat

It is found growing on dry hillsides.[2]

Conservation

In Liaoning, China, it was listed as an endemic vascular species, along with Acontium faurieri, Artemisia chienshanica, Betula ceratoptera, Caragana litwinowii, Iris minutoaurea, Phragmites australis and others.[12]

It is known as an endangered species.[2] In 2007, it was designated by IUCN Endangered Red list as Critically Endangered.[8] In 2012, it is still listed as Critically Endangered.[9]

Cultivation

It is not common in cultivation in the UK. It prefers to grow in sandy soils It needs to be kept dry during winter, needing the protection of bulb frames, only needs water during the growing season.[13]

References
  1. "Iris kobayashii Kitag. is an accepted name". theplantlist.org (The Plant List). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  2. "FOC Vol. 24 Page 306". efloras.org (Flora of China). Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  3. Pries, Bob (11 June 2014). "(SPEC) Iris Kobayashii". wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society). Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  4. "Iris summary" (PDF). pacificbulbsociety.org. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  5. Austin, Claire (2005). Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0881927306. OL 8176432M.}
  6. "Iris kobayashii". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  7. "Sect. Limniris Tausch". frps.eflora.cn. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  8. "China Critically Endangered Plant List". hb.xinhuanet.com. 15 April 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  9. Tian, Gui-quan; Liu, Qiang; Zong, Xuemei; Zhangxue, Jie (2012). "Shandong Province Endangered Species Diversity Survey and Evaluation". Ecological Environment. Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 21 (1): 27–32.
  10. "Type specimens and literature". cvh.ac.cn (Chinese Virtual Herbarium). Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  11. "Iridaceae Iris kobayashii Kitag". ipni.org (International Plant Names Index). Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  12. Jirí Kolbek, Miroslav Srutek and Elgene E. O. Box (Editor)Forest Vegetation of Northeast Asia, p. 80, at Google Books
  13. Cassidy, George E.; Linnegar, Sidney (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. p. 139. ISBN 0-88192-089-4.

Other sources
  • Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 122.
  • Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China.
  • Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994–. Flora of China (English edition).
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