Iris caucasica | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Iridaceae |
Genus: | Iris |
Subgenus: | Iris subg. Scorpiris |
Section: | Iris sect. Scorpiris |
Species: | I. caucasica
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Binomial name | |
Iris caucasica | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Iris caucasica (also known as Caucasian iris)[2][3] is a species of plant in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Scorpiris. Pronounced as 'kaw-KAS-ee-kuh'.[4]
It was described in 1808 by Georg Hoffman in Commentat. Soc. Phys.-Med. Univ. Litt. Caes. Mosq.[5]
It was once confused with Iris orchioides, but Iris caucasica is a smaller plant, with sessile flowers. Also it has leaves that have white margins.[6]
Iris caucasica is an accepted name by the Royal Horticultural Society.[2]
It has a brown ovoid bulb with fleshy roots.[6] It is similar in form to Iris persica.[3]
It has grey green leaves,[7] which are ciliate[8] and that start growing at flowering time.[9] They reach up to 10–12 cm long and l-2 cm wide.[8] The leaves have a faint white margin.[10]
It has between 1–4 flowers per stem, normally pale yellow or green and with winged falls.[9] The falls also have a yellow ridge.[7] The flowers are 5–15 cm (2–6 in) across.[9] It flowers in late spring.[8] It eventually reaches a height of 15 cm (flower and stem).[8] The flowers are not fragrant.[6]
Iris caucasica grows on limestone mountain slopes (at 1200-3500m above sea level)[8] in Turkey[7] and Armenia and Azerbaijan,[11] in the Caucasus mountains.[7] Bieberstein notes seeing it near Tbilisi in the South Caucasus.[3] It has also been found in Israel and Iran.[10]
In 1892, Michael Foster introduced a hybrid version Iris Caucasica 'Kharput'.[4] which does not have winged falls.[9] It still has 4–5 flowers per stem, which are greenish-yellow. But they are generally larger than parent plant.[6]
A survey of plants used as folk medicine showed that Iris caucasica Hoffm. subsp. turcica (or Sarı nevroz, a local name used in Ovacık, Dersim) has been used as for folk medicine in Turkey. The flowers have been used in an infusion to treat colds. [12]
Media related to Iris caucasica at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Iris caucasica at Wikispecies