Biochemistry

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.^[3]: 18 It is published, that it a chromosome count: 2n=24,^[4][5] or 2n=40.^[6]

As Iris germanica has a count of 2n=44 or 48 and Iris variegata is counted as 2n=24.^[7] Iris variegata is more likely to be the parent species.

Taxonomy

It is commonly known as 'elder scented iris',^[8][9][10] or 'Iris elderflower'.^[11]

It is known as 'fläderiris' in Swedish.^[1]

The Latin specific epithet sambucina refers to sambuci-, sambucinus, -a, or -um elder-like or resembling Sambucus.^[12] This refers to the smell of the flowers resembling the scent of elder-flowers.^[2][13]

It was first published and described by Carolus Linnaeus in his book Systema Naturae (Syst. Nat) Edition 10, Volume 2 on page 863, on 7 June 1759.^[4][1][14]

It was later named Iris glauca by Salisbury in the 'Trans. Hort. Soc. London' Vol.1 on page 302 in 1812, but this was rejected by all other authors, due to Salisbury's copy work history.^[14]

It was also published in Curtis's Botanical Magazine Vol.6 on tab.187 (with a colour illustration) in 1794, The Gardeners' Chronicle in 1883, the 'Handbook of the Irideae' by J. P. Baker, on page 86 in 1892 and the Journal of RHS Vol.15 on page 3 on October 1899.^[4]

William Rickatson Dykes notes that Linnaeus had given the names of Iris sambucina and Iris squalens, to 2 similar irises, whose parents were Iris pallida and Iris variegata.^[13][15]

It was later classified as a hybrid,^[11][16] but it is unsure which species (of iris) are the parents.^[6] It probably originated in the Mediterranean as a diploid species.^[11] Many authors think it is a hybrid of Iris variegata L.^[17] and Iris pallida Lam..^{[4][1][5][18]}

Others think it is a synonym of Iris germanica L.,^[19][20] including The Plant List.^[21] It is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life and Catalogue of Life,^[22]as a synonym of Iris germanica.^[23]

It was verified as Iris sambucina by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 9 January 2003, then updated on 12 September 2005.^[1]Iris sambucina is a tentatively accepted name by the RHS and listed in the RHS Plant Finder book.^[9]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to southern ^[24][25][26] or central Europe.^[5]

Range

It is found in Europe, within Germany,^[3]: 135 GB and Ireland,^[26] Italy, Balkans (former Yugoslavia),^[1] and Spain.^[18]

Habitat

It grows on sunny, well drained slopes of mountains.^[11][6]

Conservation

It is considered rare, even though it was a wide distribution range.^[6]

Cultivation

It is hardy to between USDA Zone 3a (from -39.9 °C (-40 °F)) to Zone 8b (up to -9.4 °C (15 °F)).^[27]

It prefers to grow in well drained,^[6][28] or rich soils,^[2][25] in full sun.^[27][11]

It can often been cultivated,^[29][11] and can be grown in mixed flower borders, on the margins of shrubberies or being naturalized in the garden.^[25] It was introduced to Britain in 1658,^[2] and was then cultivated in 1748 in the UK, by Mr Philip Miller.^[24] Although, it is not often found in bulb nurseries.^[6]

It can though be attacked by slugs.^[6]

Propagation

It can be propagated by division,^[27][25][11] due to its hybrid origin, it is sterile and does not produce seed.^[27]

Hybrids and Cultivars

It can form hybrids that have flowers in combinations of yellow, red and brown hues.^[11]

Known cultivars include; Adb-el-Kaker, Abel-Kaver, Cheron, Cherion, Gypsy Queen, Leopold, Leopoldine, Nemesis, President Lincoln and Virgil.^[4]

Toxicity

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.^[27]