Iris bloudowii

Iris bloudowii is a species in the genus Iris. It is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the Psammiris section. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Russia, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China, with sickle-shaped leaves, slender stem and 2 bright or pale yellow flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

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It is similar in form to Iris humilis (another Psammiris species). It has a thick, short, irregularly shaped, fibrous rhizome. They are 0.5–1.5 cm (0–1 in) in diameter. Under the rhizome are numerous yellow-white, secondary roots. On top of the rhizome, are the brown, fibrous remains of old leaves. The rhizome has many branches, creating a slowly, creeping plant. It has 2–4 linear, lanceolate, or sword-shaped basal leaves. They are slightly curved or sickle-shaped. They appear in spring, as broad, brown shoots, before turning greyish green or light green. They can grow up to between 8 and 12 cm (3 and 5 in) long and between 4 and 8 mm wide at blooming time. Later, they extend up to between 15 and 25 cm (6 and 10 in) long and between 8 and 13 mm wide. They have 5–6 longitudinal veins, but no central mid-vein. The leaves are deciduous, and die away after flowering. It has a slender, erect stem, that can reach up to between 8 and 10 cm (3 and 4 in) long. After flowering, the stem extends up to 35 cm (14 in) long. It is not branched and carries the flowers above the foliage. The stem has 2 or 3 keeled, oblong-lanceolate, reddish purple, membranous spathes or bracts (leaves of the flower bud). They are 4 cm (2 in) long and 1.6–2 cm wide. The stems hold 2 terminal (top of stem) flowers, blooming in late spring, between April and May, or June (in Russia). The flowers are held on pedicels (stalks) that are 0.5–2 cm long. The flowers are 5–6 cm (2–2 in) in diameter, come in shades of yellow, from bright yellow, to clear yellow, to dark yellow. 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 obovate, or ovate, with purple or brown veins, leading to the haft (the section closest to the stem), and have a central yellow or golden beard. They are 4 cm long and 2 cm wide. The upright standards are oblanceolate and 3–4.5 cm long and 1–1.2 cm wide. They are narrower and shorter than the falls. It has a 1–1.5 cm long perianth tube, which is equal in length to the green, spindle-shaped ovary. The ovary also has 6 purple stripes. The plant also has 1.8–2.2 cm (1–1 in) long stamens, and bright yellow style branches that are flat and 2.5 cm long. After the iris has flowered, between June and August, it produces an oval or ovoid seed capsule, on a 1–1.2 cm long stalk. Inside are dark brown, ellipsoid or oval seeds, which are 5 mm long and 3 mm wide. They are wrinkled and have a white aril (appendage). Genetics In a 1986 study, the chromosomes of 3 iris species in China, Iris mandshurica, Iris uniflora and Iris bloudowii, were counted. Iris bloudowii had a count of 2n=26. In 2005, a study was carried out on Iris bloudowii. In 2012, a genetic study was carried out on Iris laevigata and it is from several closely related iris species, including Iris ensata, Iris setosa, Iris halophila, Iris scariosa, Iris potaninii, Iris tenuifolia, Iris bloudowii, and Iris sanguinea. As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. It has been counted several times, 2n=22 (Marc Simonet, 1934), 2n=22 (Randolph, 1947), 2n=26 (Simonet, 1952) and 2n=26 (Doronkin, 1984). It is commonly published as 2n=22, 26, or 2n = 26.