''Iris'' × ''germanica'' is the accepted name for a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the family ''

Iridaceae Iridaceae is a family of plants in order Asparagales, taking its name from the irises, meaning rainbow, referring to its many colours. There are 66 accepted genera with a total of c. 2244 species worldwide (Christenhusz & Byng 2016). It include ...

'' commonly known as the bearded iris or the German bearded iris. It is one of a

group A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic iden ...

of hybrid origin. Varieties include ''I.'' × ''g.'' var. ''florentina''.

Description

''Iris'' × ''germanica'' grows up to high and wide. The roots can go up to deep and it is a rhizomatous perennial that blooms mid to late spring. Hundreds of cultivars exist representing nearly every colour from jet black to sparkling whites and red. Some cultivars are known to re-bloom in the autumn (fall).

Biochemistry

It is known to produce the isoflavone

irilone Irilone is an isoflavone, a type of flavonoid. It can be found in ''Trifolium pratense'' (red clover), in ''Iris unguicularis'' and in ''Iris germanica Iris most often refers to: *Iris (anatomy), part of the eye *Iris (mythology), a Greek goddes ...

, and several analytical studies have been made from the rhizomes.

Genetics

As most irises are

diploid Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Sets of chromosomes refer to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, respectively ...

, having two sets of

chromosome A chromosome is a long DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells the most important of these proteins are ...

s. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. It has had its chromosome counted several times; 2n=44, Banerji & Chaudhuri, 1972; 2n=28, Mao 1986; 2n=44 Sopova 1982; 2n=44, Váchová & Feráková, 1986 and 2n=44, Lovka, 1995.

Taxonomy

It is most commonly known as 'bearded iris' and in the UK occasionally as 'common German flag'. It was first published and described as ''Iris germanica'' by

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

in his book '

Species Plantarum ' (Latin for "The Species of Plants") is a book by Carl Linnaeus, originally published in 1753, which lists every species of plant known at the time, classified into genera. It is the first work to consistently apply binomial names and was the ...

' on page 38 in 1753. Although,

Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is a ...

and many other authorities state that it is a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

, so is named as ''Iris'' × ''germanica'', with the cross 'x' showing its hybrid status. It is a European hybrid, rather than a true wild species. ''Iris'' × ''germanica'' is considered to have been a natural hybrid between ''

Iris pallida ''Iris pallida'', the Dalmatian iris or sweet iris, is a hardy flowering perennial plant of the genus '' Iris'', family Iridaceae. It is native to the Dalmatian coast (Croatia) but widely naturalised elsewhere. It is a member of the subgenus '' I ...

'' and ''

Iris variegata ''Iris variegata'', commonly known as the Hungarian iris, is a plant species in the genus ''Iris'', also in the subgenus ''Iris''. It is a rhizomatous perennial from eastern Europe. It has dark green, ribbed leaves. The branched flowering stems c ...

'' Linnaeus, both of which also have the chromosome number 2n = 24. ''Iris germanica'' is an accepted name by the RHS, and it was verified by

United States Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the United States federal executive departments, federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, ...

Agricultural Research Service The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area. ARS is charged with ext ...

on 8 May 1996. They also state it has unknown parentage. The named cultivars are most commonly sold in shops as ''Iris germanica'',

Distribution and habitat

''Iris'' × ''germanica'' is thought to be originated in Mediterranean Europe.

Range

It is widely

naturalized Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...

across Europe.

Cultivation

It prefers to grow in full sun, with well-drained soil. It normally retains some of its leaves over the winter period. After it has flowered and during dry conditions through the summer is best time to divide and transplant.

Propagation

It can be propagated by seed and by division.

Hybrids and cultivars

''Iris'' × ''germanica'' has many cultivars, there are thought to be about 60,000 cultivars available. These are a few known named cultivars: * 'Adriatic Shores' * 'Amas' * 'Askabadensis' * 'Baveilles' * 'Belouinii' * 'Biliotti' * 'Black Prince' * 'Col Du Chat' * 'Cretan' * 'Crimson King' * 'Croatica' * 'Deflexa' * 'Dominion' * 'Dusky Challenger' * 'Florentina' * 'Fontarabie' * 'Germanica' * 'Germanica Alba' * 'Germanica Caerulea' * 'Germanica Major' * 'Germanica Marmorata' * 'Germanica Maxima' * 'Germanica Violacea' * 'Germanica Vulgaris' * 'Gnome' * 'Gypsy Queen' * 'Istria' * 'Junonia' * 'Kharput' * 'Kirman' * 'Kochii' * 'Kurdistan' * 'Lemperg Purple' * 'Macrantha' * 'Nepalensis' * 'Oriflamme' * 'Paladin' * 'Purple King' * 'Seattle' * 'Sivas' * 'Srinagar' * 'Thun' * 'Titan's Glory' * 'Turchino' * 'Varbosiana' * 'Varbossana'. ''I.'' × ''germanica'' var. ''amas'' was one of the most important cultivars in the creation of the modern tetraploid tall-bearded Irises.

In culture

In Iran and Kashmir, ''

Iris kashmiriana ''Iris kashmiriana'' is a plant species in the genus '' Iris'', it is also in the subgenus '' Iris''. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Kashmir, India. It has straight, sword-shaped, glaucous leaves, tall, thick stem with up 2 short branches, ...

'' and ''Iris'' × ''germanica'' are most commonly grown on

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

grave yards.British Iris Society (1997) It has frequently been painted including 'Irises' (see right) and ' Irises' both by

Vincent van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionism, Post-Impressionist painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history. In a decade, he created about 2 ...

in 1890.Jennifer Helvey

Photo gallery

File:Clonal colony of Iris germanica.jpg,

Clonal colony A clonal colony or genet is a group of genetically identical individuals, such as plants, fungi, or bacteria, that have grown in a given location, all originating vegetatively, not sexually, from a single ancestor. In plants, an individual in s ...

File:Iris Fabian.jpg, ''Iris'' 'Fabian' hybridized by John Salter, 1868, UK

References

Sources

* Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR) Cambridge University Press. Note: lists as Iris germanica L. * Davis, P. H., ed. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. Note: lists as ''Iris germanica'' L. * Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage Note: = species * FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America. Note: lists as ''Iris germanica'' L. * Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR. Note: = ''Iris germanica'' L. * Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants * Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 25–28. * Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of estPakistan. * Personal Care Products Council. INCI * Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica. Note: lists as ''Iris germanica'' L. * Stace, C. 1995. New flora of the British Isles. Note: natzd. * Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq. Note: = ''Iris germanica'' L. * Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea. Note: = ''Iris germanica'' L.* * Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China * Walters, S. M. et al., eds. 1986–2000. European garden flora {{DEFAULTSORT:Iris germanica germanica Flora of Europe Garden plants of Europe Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus