Iris stenophylla

Iris stenophylla is a species of flowering plant in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Scorpiris. It is a bulbous perennial.

Description
Iris stenophylla has a very similar form to Iris persica. But with different colouring. It has bulb with brown papery tunics, and fleshy storage roots. The stem can be hidden by the leaves. It normally has one flower per unbranched stem. The flowers appear between March and May in the UK. In America, they can appear earlier. < The flowers normally measure about 5.5-6.5 cm in diameter. They come in a range of shades, between violet-blue or lilac-blue. The falls have normally a darker blade with a violet spotted whitish area. It has a yellow or orange crest. The perianth tube is about 6–9 cm long. The leaves are shorter than the stem at blooming time. They later grow up to 10–25 cm long and are between 5-10mm wide. Unusually unlike other Juno irises they do not have a white margin. They grow from the base of the plant, they are slightly falcate (sickle-shaped) and greyish-green. The allisonii subsp. was thought to have more leaves than the type. It has 3-3.5 cm long, ellipsoid capsules. The brown seeds do not have an aril (coating).

Biochemistry
In 2002, a morphological and cytological study was carried out on Iris stenophylla subsp. stenophylla and Iris stenophylla subsp. Allsoni. This determined that there was not enough difference between the two subspecies, therefore 'Iris stenophylla subsp. Allsoni' is a synonym of Iris stenophylla. The results were then published in Vol. 14O, Issue 2 pages 115-127 of the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.

Taxonomy
The name stenophylla comes from the Greek word meaning narrow leaves.

It was originally published in The Gardeners' Chronicle Vol.I on page 170 in 1900 by Baker based on an earlier description by Hausskn. Then it was shown in Botanical Magazine t.7734 in 1900.

It was then published in 1994 as 'Juno stenophylla' (Hausskn. & Siehe) by Roidonenko in 'Botanicheskii Zhurnal' of Moscow & Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Issue 79, page 105.

''Iris stenophylla subsp. allisonii'' was published in Brian Mathews book 'The Iris' on page 166 in 1981. Before it was re-classified as a synonym of Iris stenophylla.

Iris stenophylla was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 9 January 2003, then updated on 1 December 2004. and it is listed in the Encyclopedia of Life.

''Iris stenophylla subsp. stenophylla'' is an accepted name by the RHS.

Distribution and habitat
It is native in Asia.

Range
It is found in Turkey, near the West Taurus Mountains near Gundogmus.

Habitat
It grows on the rocky hillsides, and on alpine meadows.

They can be found at an altitude of 400 - 2000 m above sea level.

Conservation
It is at risk in Turkey and was listed in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. Between 2004-2006, the ICUN had it listed as 'Vulnerable' around the region of Tatkoy and Konya.

Cultivation
It is hardy to USDA Zone 4.

It is considered a fairly easy plant to cultivate. It can be grown in well drained, loamy soil in full sun. It is better grown in an Alpine house or bulb frame.

To avoid botrytis and bulb rot, the plant must be watered around the base of the plant, not touching the channelled leaves.

It can be seen growing in the Alpine house of Edinburgh Botanic Garden.

Other sources

 * Davis, P. H., ed. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
 * Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 165–167.