 |
See New TB Image Gallery* |
You are here: Iris Wiki>Main Web>AdmAll>IrisInfo>InfoDykesKey (revision 20)EditAttachSubscribe
Dykes's Analytical Key to the Genus Iris (under construction)
Note: This Key is being developed further than Dykes original key. Annotations that were not his are in green. Dyke's original 100 year-old work contained only about half the species we know today. This dichotomous key gives you an A or B choice. By clicking on one or the other the next step appears at the very top of your page. (A) Rootstock bulbous 1. or (B) Rootstock non-bulbous 3.Rootstock bulbous- ----
(A) Rootstock a simple bulb without persistent roots 2. or (B) Rootstock a bulb with fleshy roots persisting in the resting season.... The Juno SectionRootstock a simple bulb without persistent roots ---
(A) Rootstock a bulb with a smooth, membranous outer coat..... The Xiphium Section (B) Rootstock a bulb with netted outer coats......The Reticulata Section______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
The Juno Section ----
(A) Outer segments (falls) bearing lateral wings, seeds spherical or pyriform without any conspicuous aril. (B) Outer segments (falls) not winged but with a strap-shaped haft, seeds either cubical or with a conspicuous arilOuter segments (falls) bearing lateral wings, seeds spherical or pyriform without any conspicuous aril ---
(A) Stem not produced (B) Stem producedStem not produced ---
(A) Leaves broad, falcate at flowering time: pollen grains covered with spines (B) Leaves narrow, erect at flowering; pollen grains covered with a pentagonal network.... Iris persicaLeaves broad, falcate at flowering time: pollen grains covered with spines ---
(A) Pubescence on the central line of the falls composed of simple hair-like processes, only slightly if at all thickened at the apex.... Iris alata (B) [Pubescence composed of hair-like processes, each surmounted by an almost spherical boss. ........ Iris palestinaStem produced ---
(A) Central ridge on the haft and the blade of the falls splitting into hair-like threads........ Iris tubergeniana (B) Central ridge not splitting into threads.Central ridge not splitting into threads ---
(A) Leaves with a conspicuous white horny edge (B) Leaves without a conspicuous white horny edge....................... Iris sindjarensisLeaves with a conspicuous white horny edge ---
(A) Stem tall, narrow, having a few widely separated leaves...................................... Iris aitchisonii (B) Stem dwarfer stout, closely set with broad leavesStem dwarfer stout, closely set with broad leaves ---
(A) Flowers conspicuously blotched; leaves very broad and glossy.............................. Iris willmottiana (B) Flowers not conspicuously blotched.Flowers not conspicuously blotched
(A) Flowers yellow. ..................................................................................................... Iris caucasica (B) Flowers lilac or purple............................................................................................ Iris stocksiiOuter segments (falls) not winged but with a strap-shaped haft, seeds either cubical or with a conspicuous aril ---
(A) Seeds more or less cubical without conspicuous aril. (B) Seeds globular or pyriform with conspicuous arilSeeds more or less cubical without conspicuous aril. ---
(A) Outer tunics of the bulb a dark olive green............................... Iris fosteriana (B) Outer tunics of the bulb a pale brownOuter tunics of the bulb a pale brown ---
(A) Horny edge of the leaves inconspicuous.................................... Iris orchioides (B) Horny edge of the leaves conspicuousHorny edge of the leaves conspicuous ---
(A) Flowers white and yellow............................................................ Iris bucharica (B) Flowers blue or purpleFlowers blue or purple ---
(A) Plant Slender: the haft of the falls expanding suddenly into an oval or suborbicular blade; flowers deeply colored; ......... Iris warleyensis (B) Plant stouter; the haft expanding more gradually into the oval blade; flowers paler in color........... Iris coeruleaSeeds globular or pyriform with conspicuous aril. ---
(A) Stem not produced............................................................. Iris rosenbachiana (B) Stem produced.Stem produced ---
(A) Leaves not falcate; seeds with circular aril as in the Oncocyclus section.................................... Iris linifolia (B) Leaves very falcate: seeds with large white aril or strophiole running nearly half round the circumference as in I. rosenbachiana......... Iris drepanophylla __________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Xiphium Section ---
The species may be separated as follows; (A) Outer segments (falls) with a short broad triangular haft and a nearly orbicular blade. ........................... Iris xiphioides (B) Outer segments (falls) panduriform (fiddle-shaped), having a long oval haft separated by slight constriction from the ovate or nearly orbicular blade.Outer segments (falls) panduriform (fiddle-shaped), having a long oval haft separated by slight constriction from the ovate or nearly orbicular blade. ---
(A) Perianth tube very short, broad................................................ Iris xiphium (B) Perianth tube 1/2 inch or more in lengthPerianth tube 1/2 inch or more in length ---
(A) The outer tunics of the bulbs thick and leathery............................ Iris juncea (B) The outer tunics of the bulbs thin and membranousThe outer tunics of the bulbs thin and membranous ---
(A) Outer segments (falls) bearded..................................................... Iris boissieri (B) Outer segments (falls) not beardedOuter segments (falls) not bearded ---
(A) The inner segments (standards) obtuse, rounded. ................................... Iris filifolia (B) The inner segments (standards) lanceolate, pointed.................................. Iris tingitana ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Reticulata Section ---
(A) Leaves tubular with 4 or 8 ribs (B) Leaves linear, channeled, with thickened edges.................................... Iris kopalkowskianaLeaves tubular with 4 or 8 ribs ---
(A) Leaves tubular with 8 ribs at equal intervals............................................ Iris Bakeriana (B) Leaves tubular with 4 ribs at unequal intervalsLeaves tubular with 4 ribs at unequal intervals ---
(A) Inner segments (standards) reduced to mere bristles................................ Iris danfordiae (B) Inner segments (standards) approximately equal in length to the outer segments (falls).Inner segments (standards) approximately equal in length to the outer segments (falls). ---
(A) Bulbs producing comparatively few offsets, each of considerable size............... Iris reticulata (B) Bulbs producing a large number of offsets (15-25) of very small offsetsBulbs producing a large number of offsets (15-25) of very small offsets ---
(A) Flowers produced with or before the leaves.................................................... Iris histrioides (B) Flowers overtopped by the leaves................................................................. Iris histrio and its subspecies Iris vartani _________________________________________________________________________________________________Rootstock non-bulbous ----
(A) Rootstock a corm with shaggy, netted coats...... The Gynandriris Sectiom (B) Rootstock neither a bulb or a corm._________________________________________________________________________________________
The Gynandriris Section ---
Today this irid is no longer in the Genus Iris but is referred to the Genus Moraea. On its way to its current position it was also known as Gynandriris sisyrinchium and is presently Moraea sisyrinchium. Dykes in 1914 gave the following note to his Gynandriris Section; "This section contains but one species, I. sisyrinchium, unless indeed we give separate names to the dwarf one-leafed forms, which seem to occur in many localities alongside the typical form. Iris sisyrinchium is distinct from all the other Irises in the possession of a corm as opposed to a bulb, although in its netted coats it makes an approach to the species of the Reticulata Section" _____________________________________________________________________________________________________Rootstock neither a bulb nor a corm ---
(A) Rootstock a minute flattened rhizome, hardly more that a growing point, surrounded by a thick mass of fibers and having a number of fleshy persistent roots attached to its base. ..... The Nepalensis Section (B) Rootstock a rhizome. ______________________________________________________________________________________________
The Nepalensis Section ---
Dykes provided the following note on his Nepalensis Section: "This containtains either one or two species, which are at once separated from all other Irises by their remarkavle rootstock which is not unlike that of a Hemerocallis. For the discussion of the Claims of I. Collettii to specific rank see the observations on that species and on I. nepalensis." Note today we have more species in this group which is now known as Subgenus Nepalensis The BIS Species Guide includes the following species Iris barbatula, Iris collettii, Iris decora, Iris leptophylla???, Iris staintonii. Mathew and Zhao include Iris latistyla, and Zhao includes Iris subdichotoma. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________Rootstock a rhizome ---
(A) Outer segments (falls) crested...................The Evansia Section (B) Outer segments (falls) not crested______________________________________________________________________________________________
The Evansia Section ---
This section is considered today as artificial, in other words the trait of a crest is not based necessarily on natural evolutionary affinities. Dykes differentiated the species comprising this group in the following way. (A) Stems not produced or extremely short............ Iris cristata (B) Stems producedStems produced ---
(A) Stems unbranched.................................... Iris speculatrix (B) Stems branchedStems branched ---
(A) Spathe consisting of a single valve......................... Iris gracilipes (B) Spathe consisting of two valvesSpathe consisting of two valves ---
(A) Leaves thick, smooth, with glossy upper and glaucous under-surface......................... Iris japonica (B) Leaves thin, distinctly ribbed, both surfaces slightly glaucousLeaves thin, distinctly ribbed, both surfaces slightly glaucous ---
(A) Rhizome green, stem tall, much branched, flowers small..................................... Iris milesii (B)Rhizome buff, stem shorter, less branched, Flowers large................................. Iris tectorumOuter segments (falls) not crested ---
(A) Outer segments (falls) bearded with multicellular hairs (B) Outer segments (falls) unbearded or with a pubescence of unicellular hairs.Outer segments (falls) bearded with multicellular hairs ---
(A) Seeds with a conspicuous, creamy-white, circular aril. (B) Seeds without any conspicuous aril..........The Pogoniris Section ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Pogoniris Section ---
Dykes separated the members of this Section as follows (A) Stem unbranched. (B) Stem branched;Stem unbranched. ---
(A) Stem not produced or extremely short (B) Stem produced.Stem not produced or extremely short ---
(A) Rhizome not hidden in fibrous remains of old leaves........................................................................Iris pumila (B) Rhizome entirely hidden in fibrous remains of old leavesRhizome entirely hidden in fibrous remains of old leaves ---
(A) Leaves tapering gradually to a point.........................................................................Iris tigridia (B) Leaves blunt..............................................................................................................Iris potaniniStem produced. ---
(A) Spathes with both valves sharply keeled (B) Spathes either not keeled or with only one valve slightly keeledSpathes with both valves sharply keeled ---
(A) Spathe valves narrow, lanceolate (B) Spathe valves comparatively short and broad............................................................Iris reichenbachiiSpathe valves narrow, lanceolate ---
(A) Spathe valves persistently green, tube 2-3 inches long..............................................Iris mellita (B) Spathe valves membranous, almost transparent, scarious at the tip, tube 1-1 1/2 inch long..................Iris scariosaSpathes either not keeled or with only one valve slightly keeled ---
(A) Rhizome more or less stoloniferous; seeds with minute aril, leaves thin, narrow almost linear (B) Rhizome more compact; seeds without any conspicuous aril, leave thicker, broader ensiform.Rhizome more or less stoloniferous; seeds with minute aril, leaves thin, narrow almost linear---
(A) Spathes narrow, membranous, young shoots green, growths separated by slender stolons........................Iris flavissima (B) Spathes broader growth more compactSpathes broader growth more compact ---
(A) Spathes broad for their length, distinctly veined and flushed with reddish brown............................Iris bloudowii (B) Spathes not noticeably broad, green..........................................................................................Iris mandshuricaRhizome more compact; seeds without any conspicuous aril, leave thicker, broader ensiform.---
(A) Perianth tube twice as long as the ovary, spathes short. .......................................................Iris chamaeiris (B) Perianth tube three or more times as long as the ovaryPerianth tube three or more times as long as the ovary ---
(A) Spathe valves wholly green..........................................................................................................Iris griffithii (B) Spathe valves not wholly greenSpathe valves not wholly green ---
(A) Spathe valves linear, membranous................................................................................................Iris psuedopumila (B) Spathe valves oval, green for the most part and only scarious in the upper half...........................Iris subbifloraStem branched ---
(A) Stem branching at the center or below, often at the very base: leaves dying entirely away before the winter................Iris aphylla (B) Stem branching in the upper part.Stem branching in the upper part ---
(A) Spathe valves wholly scarious before the flowers expand (B) Spathe valves not wholly scarious before the flowers expandSpathe valves wholly scarious before the flowers expand ---
(A) Spathe valves silvery white, plant 2 feet or more high...............................Iris pallida (B) Spathe valves pale brown, plants much shorter.........................................[[Spec.SpecCengialti][Iris cengialti)Spathe valves not wholly scarious before the flowers expand ---
(A) Spathe valves membranous, not scarious, much inflated (B) Spathe valves green or partly scarious, not conspicuously inflatedSpathe valves membranous, not scarious, much inflated ---
(A) Outer segments (falls) strap-shaped, the haft bearing thick dark veins that end abruptly at a straight transverse line..........Iris alberti (B) Outer segments (falls) more obovate, haft only slightly veined, plant dwarfer................................Iris imbricataSpathe valves green or partly scarious, not conspicuously inflated ---
(A) Spathe valves wholly green, not scarious, when the first flowers expand. (B) Spathe-valves partly green and partly scarious when the first flowers expand.Spathe-valves wholly green, not scarious, when the first flowers expand. ---
(A) Spathe-valves short and broad, somewhat inflated, leaves thin and distinctly ribbed, plant not more than 18 inches high.......Iris variegate (B) Spathe-valves long and narrow, less inflated. leaves thicker and less distinctly ribbed, plant much sturdier and taller, 2-3 feet..............................Iris kashmirianaSpathe-valves partly green and partly scarious when the first flowers expand ---
Dykes's notes: "The remaining seven are extremely difficult and in some cases impossible to separate as herbarium specimens; some of them some of the them probably scarcely deserve specific rank (A) Leaves short, glaucous, not growing to any extent until the winter is over, resembling those of I. pallida; Spathes pale green scarious in the upper part...............................................Iris junonia (B) Leaves longer, beginning to grow in the autumn and attaining some length before winter.Leaves longer, beginning to grow in the autumn and attaining some length before winter. ---
(A) Spathe-valves narrow acuminate. (B) Spathe-valves broader, more navicular.Spathe-valves narrow acuminate. ---
(A) Spathe-valves almost wholly green, scarious only at the extreme edge and tip...........................Iris billiottii (B) Spathe valves much flushed with purple, scarious in the upper third or half.................................Iris trojanaSpathe-valves broader, more navicular ---</a.
(A) Spathe-valves much flushed with purple, scarious in the upper half..............................................Iris germanica (B) Spathe valves not flushed with purpleSpathe valves not flushed with purple ---
(A) Flowers nearly sessile on the comparatively short. thick stem..........................................................Iris albicans (B) Flowers bourne on lateral branches, stem far overtopping the leavesFlowers bourne on lateral branches, stem far overtopping the leaves ---
(A) Spathe-valves broad, membranous, only scarious in the upper third; leaves broad, tapering conspicuously above and below the middle...................................................................................................................................................Iris mesopotamica (B) Spathe-valves broad, membranous, the outer valve nearly wholly scarious; leaves comparatively narrow for so large a plant and with parallel sides, not noticeably wider in the middle..................................................................................Iris cypriana ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________Seeds with a conspicuous, creamy-white, circular aril ---
(A) Aril conspicuous, often nearly as large as the seed itself; Flowers not appearing until the leaves are practically full grown. (B) Aril not so conspicuous, much smaller than the seed; flowers appearing when the leaves are still quite short ....The Pseudoregelia Section---Aril conspicuous, often nearly as large as the seed itself; Flowers not appearing until the leaves are practically full grown.
(A) Stem 1-headed, 1-flowered.............The Oncocyclus Section (B) Stem 1-headed, 2-3 flowered............The Regelia Section ______________________________________________________________________________________________The Oncocyclus Section ---
________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dykes noted: "The members of the Oncocyclus section all agree in possessing: 1. Seeds with a large, creamy-white aril. 2. An unbranched stem, bearing a single flower 3. Green, narrow, unkeeled, almost tubular spathes 4. A tube slightly longer than the elongated tapering ovary. The various species may be separated as follows; (A) Plant slender, leaves narrow, not more than 1/2 inch wide, stem not more than 6, or at most 8, inches long (B) Plant stouter, leaves broader, stem usually at least a foot and sometimes two feet long.Plant slender, leaves narrow, not more than 1/2 inch wide, stem not more than 6, or at most 8, inches long. ---
(A) Outer segments short, narrow, strap-shaped, only a quarter or a third the width of the inner segments.................[[Spec.SpecParadoxa}[Iris paradoxa]] (B) Outer segments more than half as large as the inner segments.Outer segments more than half as large as the inner segments ---
(A) Outer segments deflexed, concave on the upper surface.....................................Iris iberica (B) Outer segments extended horizontally for at least half their length, convex on the upper surface.Outer segments extended horizontally for at least half their length, convex on the upper surface. ---
(A) Flowers concolor, not conspicuously veined. (B) Flowers conspicuously veinedFlowers concolor, not conspicuously veined. ---
(A) Flowers yellow or red-purple with a signal patch of a deeper shade of the same colour............Iris barnumae (B) Flowers purple black with a yellow signal patch....................................................................Iris atropurpureaFlowers conspicuously veined. ---
(A) Veins thin leaving the ground colour clear and unobscured. (B) Veins thick, diffuse, tending to obscure the ground colour.Veins thin leaving the ground colour clear and unobscured. ---
(A) Segments tapering, falls extending horizontally.............................................Iris ewbankiana (B) Segments tapering, falls reflexing beyond the middle....................................Iris acutilobaVeins thick, diffuse, tending to obscure the ground colour. ---
(A) Segments broad standards orbicular...................................................Iris Sari (B) Segments oblong, standards tapering..................................................Iris medaPlant stouter, leaves broader, stem usually at least a foot and sometimes two feet long. ---
The Palestine or Syrian group of closely allied forms, which can only be separated by their colour. (A) Ground color of Standards and falls grey-white (B) Ground color of Standards and falls silvery white, white or yellowGround color of Standards and falls silvery white, white or yellow ---
(A) Ground color yellow (B) Ground color white or silvery whiteGround color white or silvery white ---
(A) Flower immense, of a pale grey, produced by delicate faint purplish veins on a silvery-white ground......Iris gatesii (B) Standards faintly veined with pale violet on white, falls dotted and veined with crimson or red brown.......Iris lortettii---Standards heavily veined with blue or purple.falls closely dotted and veined with dark purple on a yellow ground.........Iris bismarckiana
Ground color of Standards and falls grey-white ---
(A) Veins violet black (B) Veins reddish blackVeins violet black ---
(A) Segments closely veined and dotted with deep violet black on a grey-white ground..........Iris Susiana (B) Similar to D but less closely veined, so that the grey-white ground is much more conspicuous.......Iris sofarana Standards veined and dotted with reddish black on grey, falls similar but with the ground colour almost entirely hidden. .---...Iris atrofusca ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Regelia Section ---
(A) Rhizome comparatively compact, (B) Rhizome wide-spreading by means of slender stolons, segments waved.......................................Iris stoloniferaRhizome comparatively compact, ---
(A) Leaves ensiform (Swordlike) (B) Leaves linear, very narrow..............................................................................................Iris falcifoliaLeaves ensiform (Swordlike)
(A) Blade of falls narrowing suddenly to an oblong haft.........................Iris korolkowii (B) Blade of falls tapering to a point above and narrowing gradually into the haft..................Iris darwasica __________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Pseudoregelia Section ---
The members of this section can be separated as follows: (A) Stem not produced or extremely short: tube long.......................................................Iris kumaonensis (B) Stem produced.Stem produced ---
(A) Spathes one flowered: plants very slender...............................................................Iris goniocarpa (B) Spathes two flowered: plants stouterSpathes two flowered: plants stouter ---
(A) Tube short under 1 inch long................................................................................Iris hookeriana (B) Tube long, 1 1/2 to 2 inches..................................................................................Iris sikkimensis ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________-Outer segments (falls) unbearded or with a pubescence of unicellular hairs ---
(A) Inflorescence a regular raceme, seeds conspicuously winged: flowers fugitive and twisting spirally as they wither. The Pardanthopsis Section. (B) Inflorescence not a regular raceme, seeds not conspicuously winged. The Apogon Section ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Pardanthopsis Section ---
Dyke's Key notes; " There is only one known species of Iris that belongs to this section, which was so named by reason of the resemblance of I. dichotoma to Pardanthus (Belamcanda) Chinensis. See Hance in Journal Bot. XIII. (New Ser. IV.) p. 105 (1875)" ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Apogon Section ---
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dykes' Apogon Section is roughly synonymous with todays Section Limniris. He divided into 15 groups, about equivalent to today's Series but did not provide a key but simply a list of important characters. The key below is created based on those characters and sends you to the group, where he did provide a key to the species. This section of the Iris genus has already been defined as containing all those species of rhizomatous Irises, in which the central line of the falls is either smooth or only covered with a pubescence of unicellular processes. It seems, unfortunately, impossible to select any one character or set of characters to form a guide through the maze of species. The nearest approach to such a character is found in the seeds, but besides the fact that these are often missing in herbarium specimens, those of a few species, such as Bungei and Rossii, are still undescribed. Moreover the seeds of the species in each group are readily distinguishable and have only a certain family likeness, which indeed in some cases is only apparent to the practiced eye. The classification classification of the Apogon species given below is therefore admittedly unsatisfactory , partly for the reasons already given, and partly also because some of the species seem to stand by themselves and to have little affinity to any others. Under each heading is the following list an attempt is made to give the chief characteristics of the species included. Created key to groups! (A) Rhizome annulate and surrounded with stiff bristles. Spathes very long and narrow, one flowered with the pedicel equal in length to the spathe (B) Not as above. ---IV. The Syrian Group. Rhizome annulate and surrounded with stiff bristles. Spathes very long and narrow, one flowered with the pedicel equal in length to the spathe.
(A) Flowers purple............................................................................Iris masia (B) Flowers yellowFlowers yellow ---
(A) Flowers greenish yellow, the falls curiously fringed with irregular linear black purple dots (B) Flowers bright yellow, with four or five large linear black dots scattered irregularly over the blade of the falls............Iris melanostictaFlowers greenish yellow, the falls curiously fringed with irregular linear black purple dots ---
(A) The fibrous remains of old leaves on the rootstocks are perhaps slightly less rigid...............Iris aschersoni (B) The fibrous remains of old leaves on the rootstocks are perhaps slightly more rigid..............Iris Grant-DuffiRhizome not annulate and surrounded with stiff bristles --
(A) Scarlet seeds remaining attached in the opened capsule...... Group VI Varieties with white , yellow or orange seeds exist but all are conspicuous. (B) Seeds and capsule not as above. Seeds usually tan brown or black and not conspicuous in an open capsuleGroup VI, The scarlet-seeded Iris ---
The single character of the scarlet seeds, that remain attached to the open capsule seems sufficient to separate I. foetidissmafrom all other species confined to Europe and North Africa. The only other Iris in which seeds remain attached after the pod has opened is Iris domestica but these are shiny and black giving it the common name blackberry lily.Inconspicuous colored seeds not remaining in a cluster attached to pod when it is open ---
(A) XIV. The Tripetalous Group The inner perianth segments or standards are reduced to little more than bristles (B) The inner perianth segments larger than mere bristlesXIV. The Tripetalous Group The inner perianth segments or standards are reduced to little more than bristles ---
It is of course an exaggeration to say that the two species that form this group have only three perianth segments. The three inner segments are also present, but in greatly reduced form. Indeed it is not always easy to detect the small bristle like projections to which the standards are reduced. This phenomemum is known to occur in one other Iris, and that is I. danfordiae a bulbous species. The species may be distinguished as follows; (A) Leaves ensiform; spathes sometimes partly scarious in the upper part, flimsy, capsule trigonal; seeds oval, rounded with a conspicuous raphe running down one side. ....................................Iris setosa (B) Leaves linear; spathes wholly green at flowering time; rigid, capsule rounded seeds compressed, disc-shaped........Iris tripetalaThe inner perianth segments larger than mere bristles ---
(A) Capsules with 6 ribs: (B) Capsules without 6 ribs, usually 3 ribs or rounded.Capsules with 6 ribs
(A) Capsule with roughly equally spaced ribs (B) Capsules with a double rib at the angles of the capsule.... Group IX the Spuria Group (B) Capsules with a single rib or no rib at the angles of the capsule or capsule rounded.Group IX, The Spuria Group. ---
The chief characteristics of this group are the double ribs at the angles of the capsules, the loose parchment-like skins of the seeds, the two-toothed stigma, and the panduriform outer segments. Leaves ensiform, tough, emitting a slightly fetid odour when bruised. Its representatives are widely distributed through Europe and Asia as far East as Kashmir. (A) Flower stalk not produced........... Iris humilis, today's synonym Iris pontica (B) Flower stalk producedFlower stalk produced ---
(A) Stem producing one or more lateral heads of flowers.......... Iris Spuria & its subspecies (B) Stem only producing a single terminal head of flowersStem producing one or more lateral heads of flowers ---
(A) (B)Stem only producing a single terminal head of flowers ---
(A) Stem flattened with distinct lateral flanges........... Iris Graminea (B) Stem round or very slightly flattenedStem round or very slightly flattened ----
(A) Spathe valves sharply keeled............. Iris sintenisii (B) Spathe valves rounded, not sharply keeled.............. Iris kernerianaCapsule with 6 roughly equally spaced ribs
(A) Flowers set in the axils of the leaves (B) Flowers not set in the axils of the leavesFlowers set in the axils of the leaves; The Hexagona Group. ---
(A) Long narrow leaves and broad, truncated and deeply emarginated standards, which are nearly as broad as the falls.....Iris fulva (B) Iris hexagona and Iris foliosa are possibly indistinguishable as herbarium specimens. The typical I. foliosa is a very dwarf plant with a short stem hidden among the leaves. On the other hand, there seems to exist a whole series of forms growing gradually taller until we reach the large proportions of typical I. hexagona. As garden plants, the difference is more apparent, for the leaves ofFlowers not set in the axils of the leaves
(A) XII. Iris Ensata Group.Ovary six grooved, passing almost imperceptibly into the pedicel, tube very short, Capsule long, narrow, almost spherical in cross section, with six ribs at equal intervals. Seeds smooth, pyriform or slightly compressed, Leaves narrow, linear ensiform. An Asiatic species...Iris ensata (now changed to Iris lactea) (B) XIII Iris Longipetala Group. The plants resemble I. ensata (now I. lactea) in the characters of the rootstock and foliage. the seeds are somewhat similar, but distinctly larger and not compressed. The capsules are broad at the center and taper ar either end. The group is confined to the Rocky Mountains and to the region lying between that range and the PacificXII Iris Ensata Group (should now be referred to as the Iris Lactea Group
(A) Leaves with a corkscrew twist................................. var. chinensis (B) Leaves not twistedLeaves not twisted ---
(A) Falls obovate, Flowers much larger.............................[[Spec.SpecLacteaGrandiflora][ var. Grandiflora (oxypetala) (B) Falls oblanceolate, Flowers smaller............................ typical I. lacteaXIII Iris Longipetala Group ---
Dykes separated the three plants in his group as follows: (A) mature leaves as long or longer than the stem. (B) Mature leaves shorter than the stem, plant slender, spathes many flowered, pedicels long standards blunt emarginated.........Iris missouriensismature leaves as long or longer than the stem. ---
(A) Plant sturdy, spathes many flowered, pedicels long, standards blunt emarginated.........Iris longipetala (B) Spathes usually only two-flowered, pedicels short, standards oblanceolate pointed.......Iris MontanaCapsules with a single rib or no rib at the angles of the capsule or capsule rounded, or trigonal ---
-- BobPries - 2014-12-17
Topic revision: r20 - 11 Jan 2015, BobPries
________________________________
Administration
Ab
Copyright © by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration platform is the property of the contributing authors. Ideas, requests, problems regarding Iris Wiki? Send feedback