Iris tenuifolia

Iris tenuifolia 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 region over central Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, ; Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia and in China. It has long greyish-green leaves, short stem and pale violet, lilac, pale blue, or purple flowers.

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Iris tenuifolia is very similar in form to the Mediterranean Iris unguicularis. As they both have very small stems and the seed capsules are often hidden within the leaves of the plant. It has a dark brown, thin, short, knobbly, tough, wood-like rhizomes. Underneath, it has a network of fibrous roots. On top of the rhizome, at the base of the leaves, are the brown or red-brown, fibrous remains of the previous seasons leaves. Which act as sheaths, for the new leaves. The sheaths can be up to 6–20 cm (2–8 in) long. It can be either a single plant or can grow into thick clumps of plants. It has greyish-green, linear, twisted, leaves, that can grow between 20–60 cm (8–24 in) long and 1.5–2 mm wide. They do not have a mid-vein but parallel veins, and are acuminate (ending in a point). They continue to grow after blooming, and can end up as a mass of twisted leaves. The leaves are longer than the flowering stems. It has a very short flowering stem or scape, 10–30 cm (4–12 in) long. Although, sometimes the stems do not emerge above ground. It has 2 to 4, pointed (acuminate), membranous, green, between 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 8–10 mm wide, spathes (leaves of the flower bud). The stems hold normally 1–3, terminal (top of stem) flowers, blooming in spring, between April and May, or late as early June (in Russia). The scented flowers, are 4–7 cm (2–3 in) in diameter, and come in shades of pale violet, lilac, pale blue, or purple. 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'. The falls are spatulate (spoon shaped) or obovate-lanceolate, 4.5–6 cm (2–2 in) long and 1.5 cm (1 in) wide. They have a thin central yellow crest or mid-vein, dark veins (on a pale colour), and a band of papillose (or small hairs). The narrower, oblanceolate, erect standards are 5 cm (2 in) long and 5–9 mm wide. It has a long, slender thread-like, perianth tube, 4.5–8 cm (2–3 in) long. It has 3 single coloured, style branches, 4 cm (2 in) long and 4–5 mm wide. They attenuate (narrow slightly) and at the tips, are toothed. It has a slender 3–4 mm long pedicel, 3 cm (1 in) long Stamens and a cylindric 7–12 cm (3–5 in) long and 2 mm wide, ovary. After the iris has flowered, between late July and early August (in Russia), or between August and September (in China). It produces an ovoid or sub-globose, 3.2–4.5 cm (1–2 in) long and 1.2–1.8 cm (0–1 in) wide, seed capsule. It has short beak-like appendage on the top. The seeds are oval (or turbinate – like a top) shaped, wrinkled and black-brown to brown. Often, the seed capsule is hidden by the long leaves. Biochemistry In February 1997, a study was published in which 6 new flavanones, isolated from the rhizomes of Iris tenuifolia, using high resolution mass spectrometry. In 2005, it was noted that the rhizomes of Iris tenuifolia are the source of the largest number of new 2’-O-substituted simple flavanones within a single species. Between 2007 and 2011, a study was carried out on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Iris tenuifolia and Iris halophila. Using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The irises have been used in various tradition herbal remedy's, such as traditional Mongolian herb medicine and Uighur herb medicine. In 2008, several chemical compounds were extracted from Iris tenuifolia. These included; 'izalpinin', 'alpinone', 'arborinone', 'irilin B', 'irisone A', 'irisone B', 'betavulgarin', 'beta-sitosterol' '5,7-dihydroxy-2', '6-dimethoxy-isoflavone', 2',5-dihdroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy flavanone, 'irisoid A' and 'ethyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside'. Also 2 new compounds were found, tenuifodione and tenuifone. All found using spectroscopic methods. In 2011, 2 flavans and a flavanone, were extracted from the rhizomes of Iris tenuifolia and then tested against stem cells. Genetics In 2012, a genetic study was carried out on Iris laevigata and several of its closely related iris species, including Iris ensata, Iris setosa, Iris halophila, Iris scariosa, Iris potaninii, Iris tenuifolia, Iris bloudowii, and Iris sanguinea. In 2014, the characteristics of phenotypic plasticity and ecological adaptation of Iris tenuifolia from various habitats in Xinjiang, China, were studied. 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=14.