Iris loczyi
Iris loczyi 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 a wide area of Asia, including Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Tibet and China. It has long thin grey green leaves, long stems and 1 flower in pale violet, blue violet, lavender or light blue.
Description
It was once thought to be a form of Iris tenuifolia, especially in China.It has a slender, fibrous, knobbly or gnarled, brown-black rhizome.
It forms hard thick, tussocks or clumps of plants.
On top of the rhizome are maroon-brown, fibrous, remnants, as sheaths.
It has long and thin, linear, green-grey leaves, measuring long and 2-5mm wide. The leaves are sometimes evergreen.
It has flower stems, that are long.
They are sometimes only just above the ground level.
It has 3 green, lanceolate, between long and 1.5 cm wide, spathes.
The stems hold normally 1, terminal flowers, blooming in late spring, between April and June.
The fragrant, flowers are in diameter, and come in shades of pale violet, blue violet, lavender, and light blue.
It has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals, known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals or slightly obovate, long and 1–2 cm wide. They are veined with a darker shade and have a white or cream, signal area. The single coloured standards are also oblanceolate, erect, long and 7–8 mm wide.
It has a long, slender perianth tube of long.
It has very short pedicels. It has 2.5 cm long stamens and 1.2 cm ovary.
It has short style branches, 4 cm long and 8 mm wide, in similar shades as the standards.
After the iris has flowered, it produces a reddish-brown ovoid to cylindric seed capsule, long and 2 cm wide between June and September. The capsule has 6 veins, and a short beak-like appendage on the top.
Biochemistry
In 2008, a study was carried out on the anatomical structure of the leaf and drought resistance of 4 different species of Iris from Qinghai, China. It showed that all the species were strongly adaptable to drought conditions.In 2013, a chemical analysis study was carried on Iris loczyi and Iris unguicularis, as both plants are known as medicinally important. Iris loczyi contains the compounds 'Arborinone' and 'Irisoid A'.
Genetics
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. It has a chromosome count: 2n=20.Taxonomy
It is written as 天山鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as tian shan yuan wei in China.It has the common name of Tianshan iris, or Tian Shan Mountain iris or Iris Lochan .
It was published and described by August Kanitz in Exped. Szechen Vol.58. tab. 6. fig. 2. in 1891.
The Latin specific epithet loczyi honors 'Lajos Lóczy' the Hungarian geologist and geographer, who participated in Count Béla Széchenyi's 1877–1880 expedition to Central Asia, western China, Japan, India, Japan, Java and Borneo.
It was originally found in Ala Archa Valley of Uzbekistan.
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 2 October 2014.
As of January 2015, it is listed as unchecked by the RHS.
Distribution and habitat
Iris loczyi is native to a wide region, of various temperate areas of Asia.Range
It is found in the western Asia countries of Afghanistan and Iran, including the Caucasus regions of Pamir Mountains, Tien Shan and Baluchistan.In the middle Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and Tibet.
It is listed with Iris bloudowii, Iris psammocola, Iris ruthenica, Iris sibirica, Iris tenuifolia and Iris tigridia as being found in the Altai-Sayan region.
It is found in China, within the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai Sichuan, Xinjiang and Xizang.
Habitat
It is found growing on high mountain grasslands, and sunny hillsides. It is widespread on the mountains of Central Asia.At altitudes of between above sea level.
It is also found in clumps by the roadside in the Barskon Pass of Kyrgyzia.
Conservation
It is listed in the IUCN 'Red Book' of the Republic of Tuva as a species at vulnerable status.It was mentioned in in Czerepano's 'Vascular Plants of Russia and Adjacent States ' in 1995.
It is an endangered species in Uglovsky District of Russia. Only 20 individuals were counted. Although the plants were not eaten by cattle, destruction of the habitat is the major factor in limiting its range.
Cultivation
Iris loczyi is not common in cultivation in the UK, Europe, or Russia. It is normally only grown by botanical gardens or collectors.It is hardy in Ashgabat and Tashkent. It is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures.
Like others in the Series Tenuifoliae, it prefers sandy well drained soils.
It prefers positions in full sun. It prefers to be kept dry during the winter, needing the protection of bulb frames.
Aphid Dysaphis tulipae can be found on the plant.