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■ (SPEC) Iris florentina L.

1758, Botanical author Linneaus

Iris florentina Linnaeus (botanical author Linnaeus) in Syst. ed. X 863. (see also Iris germanica 'Florentina') registered as 'Florentina' (TB). (Collected Italy, introduced to northern Europe about 1500); TB; Early bloom season. Color Class-W1; White;

See below:

20170514 135103 (2)Iris x germanica var. florentina Orris Root01.jpg20170519 135519Iris x germanica var Florentina Orris Root (2)02.jpgfloerentina5.jpgfloertina02.jpgflorentia4.jpgflorentia5.jpgFlorentina.JPGflorentina.jpgFlorentina03.jpgflorentina03.JPGflorentina04.JPGflorentina05.JPGflorentina06.JPGflorentina1-05.jpgflorentina2-05.jpgflorentina3.jpgflorentina5.jpgflorentina7.jpgFlorentina Bot Mag 671.jpgFlorentinaDCL.jpgfloretina4.jpgFlorintina.JPGiflorentina01.jpgiflorentina1.jpgiflorentina2.jpgiflorentina20.JPGIris-Florentina.jpgIris florentina T23.jpgirisflorerntina9.jpg

References:

Gerarde 1597; Dickson 1794.
Curtis's Botanical Magazine 18; tab 671, 1803, offers the following; "Herb cespitose. Root thick, fleshy, horizontal. Leaves shorter than the stem, ensiform, palish green, glaucous, about a foot and a half high. Stem 2-4 branched, round, very slightly compressed, branches gradually shorter upwards, supported by two-valved spathaceous green bracts, the lower-most of which are leaf-like. Involucres 1-2-folwered, spha-dately membranous, rather longer than the germ, but not so long as the tube. Tube greenish, about the length of the ungues; segments of the corollas equal in length; ungues turbinately patent, those of the outer segments twice -- broadest and traversed longitudinally inwards by a narrow fillet of white cilias with deep yellow tips, inner ones convolute; outer laminae obovate-oblong, flattish, inner ones oblong-obovate, rather the broadest, upright connivent, while the outer ones are revolutely deflected. Stigmas pearl-colored somewhat oblong, outer lip entire, rounded; inner bipartate segments acuminate, subserrate, upright recurved, not revolute as in Iris germanica. Germ subsessile, trigonal-oblong 6-sulcate, longer in proportion than that of germanica; but not shorter than the tube. Whole corolla greyish white, outer segments with a somewhat bluer tint; sides of the ungues with brownish or greenish yellow veins. Blooms in May.
A native of Italy and other parts of the South of Europe, it grows plentifully on the walls of Florence; cultivated here by Gerarde in 1596. Desfontaines found it in Algiers where it is sown with germanica about graves; he doubts they are specifically distinct.
The dried root of this plant was formerly used in medicine but is now confined to some insignificant lozenges as an expectorant, and to the manufactory of the perfumer, to whom it is known by the name Orris or Orrice-root, being used to give certain articles, such as hair-powder, the scent of violets; that which is used for these purposes is imported from Leghorn, as what is produced in our climate has neither the flavour nor other qualities of the Italian root. Ray says the pigment called Verdelis or Iris green is made from the flowers of this species, while Haller and others say from those of Iris germanica.
It is perfectly hardy; is progated by parting its roots in Autumn; not quite so common in our gardens as Iris germanica, from which it differs in the color of its flowers and leaves, in the scent of its dried root, in having its spathes mostly sphacelate or membranous, and the tube of its corolla not much longer than its germ as in that. Skynner has derived Orrice from Iris. -G"
1939 checklist suggests it is a natural hybrid of probably (aphylla X pallida), but According to Mathew "the name I. florentina has been applied to various forms of Iris. According to the best botanical usage it is not a proper designation of any species of this genus. It is therefore treated here, as a horticultural variety of Iris germanica", another source of the violet scent-Orris root. For more information see listing under Iris germanica 'Florentina'.
1805 Redoute's Les liliaceae
Sibthrop, J., Smith, J.E., Flora Graeca (drawings), vol. 1: t. 39 (1806)
Prince 1823; Watson 1854;
Fos. J.R.H.S. 15: 3. Oct. 1889;
The Gardeners' Chronicle 12 Feb. 1889; 14 July 1894;
Van T. 1900; Macoun; Farr 1912;
Gard. Mag. June 1913;
Wing 1920; Bun. 1938; Cli. 1938; Kat. 1939;
"Bearded Iris Tried at Wisley"-Journal of The Royal Horticultural Society 119,; H.C., R.H.S. 1916; AA clvii,;

Variations

Iris florentina cultivars: 'Blue Zua', 'Bluzugraf', 'Elizabeth Huntington', 'Elsie Crouch Diltz', 'Firmament', 'Florentina', 'Florentina purpurea', 'Janet Barnes', 'Zua'.

Hybrids

Since Florentina is already a natural hybrid with limited fertility it is unusual to for it to hynridize with other Irises. Iris florentina crosses: 'Altar Candles', 'Tan Crown', 'Vendor'.

Synonyms

'Florentina' (Collected Italy, Introduced. N. Europe about 1500). TB; W1, White self. "The name Iris florentina has been applied to various forms of Iris. According to the best botanical usage it is not a proper designation of any species of this genus. It is therefore treated here, as also in Bailey's Standard Cyclopedia, as horticultural variety of Iris germanica, but since it is distinct and has a collection of forms it also is referred to as Iris florentina. 'Florentina' has beautiful, scented, flowers of a very faintly bluish shade rather than pure white and on the falls there is some greenish-yellow veining on the haft, and a deep yellow beard, a few hairs often present on claw of standard. Like Iris germanica the inflorescence is branched and these branches are quite long, immediately distinguishing it from Iris albicans Lange in which the lateral flowers are sessile. Gerarde 1597.

Chromosomes

2n=44. Colasante & Saer, 1993. [Iris germanica L.].

Distribution & Cultivation


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-- Main.RPries - 2010-01-11
I Attachment Action Size Date Who Comment
20170514_135103_(2)Iris_x_germanica_var._florentina_Orris_Root01.jpgjpg 20170514_135103_(2)Iris_x_germanica_var._florentina_Orris_Root01.jpg manage 1023 K 23 May 2017 - 18:37 Main.TLaurin Photo by Holly Johnson-Taken at 05/14/17 at MN Landscape Arboretum
20170519_135519Iris_x_germanica_var_Florentina_Orris_Root_(2)02.jpgjpg 20170519_135519Iris_x_germanica_var_Florentina_Orris_Root_(2)02.jpg manage 1 MB 23 May 2017 - 18:39 Main.TLaurin Photo by Holly Johnson-Taken at 05/14/17 at MN Landscape Arboretum
Florentina.JPGJPG Florentina.JPG manage 34 K 30 Jan 2011 - 13:05 IrisP  
Florentina03.jpgjpg Florentina03.jpg manage 44 K 19 Dec 2015 - 14:19 Main.TLaurin Photo by Argyle Acres Iris Gardens
FlorentinaDCL.jpgjpg FlorentinaDCL.jpg manage 54 K 16 May 2014 - 16:53 Main.Betsy881 Photo by Dottie Ladman
Florentina_Bot_Mag_671.jpgjpg Florentina_Bot_Mag_671.jpg manage 63 K 05 Aug 2011 - 14:04 UnknownUser Table 671 from Bot Mag
Florintina.JPGJPG Florintina.JPG manage 871 K 31 Oct 2020 - 18:58 Main.Harloiris Photo by John Black, zone 4 Montana
Iris-Florentina.jpgjpg Iris-Florentina.jpg manage 77 K 14 May 2020 - 20:13 SanjaKovacic Iris x florentina from the native locality in Croatia, grown in the Mediterranean collection of Zagreb Botanical Garden, Faculty of Science, Croatia
Iris_florentina_T23.jpgjpg Iris_florentina_T23.jpg manage 48 K 12 Dec 2014 - 18:53 BobPries Courtesy of Biodiversity Heritage Library
floerentina5.jpgjpg floerentina5.jpg manage 134 K 18 Jul 2022 - 15:23 Main.TLaurin Photo by Tammy Skahan-Ozark Iris Gardens
floertina02.jpgjpg floertina02.jpg manage 73 K 14 Jul 2014 - 15:52 Main.TLaurin Photo by Sandy Gessner Eggertson-Merlebleu Iris Garden-Manitoba,Canada
florentia4.jpgjpg florentia4.jpg manage 83 K 05 Jun 2018 - 01:13 Main.TLaurin Photo by Holly Johnson at the Minnesota Landscape Aboretum-Zone4B
florentia5.jpgjpg florentia5.jpg manage 181 K 05 Jun 2018 - 01:12 Main.TLaurin Photo by Holly Johnson at the Minnesota Landscape Aboretum-Zone4B
florentina.jpgjpg florentina.jpg manage 58 K 15 Jul 2016 - 19:24 BobPries Sibthrop, J., Smith, J.E., Flora Graeca (drawings), vol. 1: t. 39 (1806)
florentina03.JPGJPG florentina03.JPG manage 926 K 29 Apr 2018 - 01:25 Main.TLaurin Photo scanned from the Geraldine Couturier slide collection
florentina04.JPGJPG florentina04.JPG manage 498 K 14 May 2018 - 22:20 Main.TLaurin Photo by Nancy McDonald-The Pickle Barrel Collection.
florentina05.JPGJPG florentina05.JPG manage 382 K 14 May 2018 - 22:23 Main.TLaurin Photo by Nancy McDonald-The Pickle Barrel Collection.
florentina06.JPGJPG florentina06.JPG manage 120 K 25 Mar 2019 - 02:43 Main.TLaurin Photo by Don McQueen-London,Ont.-Canada Zone 5
florentina1-05.jpgjpg florentina1-05.jpg manage 16 K 29 Nov 2015 - 20:01 Main.mikeu Photo by Mike Unser
florentina2-05.jpgjpg florentina2-05.jpg manage 20 K 29 Nov 2015 - 20:01 Main.mikeu Photo by Mike Unser
florentina3.jpgjpg florentina3.jpg manage 35 K 01 Jun 2016 - 01:58 Main.TLaurin  
florentina5.jpgjpg florentina5.jpg manage 132 K 19 May 2019 - 02:59 Main.TLaurin Photo by Delane Langton-Eagle Ridge Iris Gardens
florentina7.jpgjpg florentina7.jpg manage 58 K 31 Jan 2019 - 15:02 Main.TLaurin Photo by Old House Gardens.
floretina4.jpgjpg floretina4.jpg manage 193 K 09 Jun 2018 - 02:47 Main.TLaurin Photo by Sandy Gessner Eggertson-Merlebleu Iris Garden-Manitoba,Canada
iflorentina01.jpgjpg iflorentina01.jpg manage 21 K 11 Sep 2014 - 16:11 Main.TLaurin Photo by Seagate Irises-United Kingdom
iflorentina1.jpgjpg iflorentina1.jpg manage 35 K 28 May 2013 - 18:45 Main.TLaurin Photo by Sandy Gessner Eggertson-Merlebleu Iris Garden-Manitoba,Canada
iflorentina2.jpgjpg iflorentina2.jpg manage 142 K 05 Jun 2019 - 02:58 Main.TLaurin Photo by Sandy Gessner Eggertson-Merlebleu Iris Garden-Manitoba,Canada
iflorentina20.JPGJPG iflorentina20.JPG manage 324 K 04 Jun 2023 - 02:11 Main.TLaurin Photo by Sandy Gessner Eggertson-Merlebleu Iris Garden-Manitoba,Canada
irisflorerntina9.jpgjpg irisflorerntina9.jpg manage 177 K 22 Apr 2021 - 18:27 Main.TLaurin Photo by Christine Skelmersdale-Broadleigh Gardens-United Kingdom
Topic revision: r41 - 04 Jun 2023, TLaurin
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