Iris subg. Iris


Subgenus Iris is one subgenus of Iris.
The genus was originally classified by Carl Linnaeus, but then further organised by Brian Mathew between 1981 and 1987.
It has been divided into six sections; bearded irises, Psammiris, Oncocyclus, Regelia, Hexapogon and Pseudoregelia. Sections Oncocyclus and Regelia are also called aril irises.

Section bearded irises (or pogon irises)

This is the largest section of the subgenus. Most irises come from Southern or eastern Europe. Note 'pogon' refers to the Greek word for beard.
It has several species of iris including;

  • Iris adriatica Trinajstic ex Mitic
  • Iris albertii
  • Iris albicans—white flag Iris, white cemetery iris.
  • Iris alexeenkoi Grossh.
  • Iris aphylla L.—stool iris, table iris, leafless iris.
  • * Iris aphylla subsp. hungarica Waldst. & Kit.) Hegi
  • Iris attica Hayek
  • Iris benacensis A.Kern. ex Stapf
  • Iris bicapitata Colas.
  • Iris croatica—Perunika; endemic to Croatia.
  • Iris cypriana Foster & Baker—endemic to Cyprus.
  • Iris flavescens Delile—lemon-yellow iris
  • Iris florentina L.—syn: Iris germanica nothovar. florentina Dykes
  • Iris furcata Bieb.—forked iris.
  • Iris × germanica L.—German iris.
  • * Iris germanica nothovar. florentina Dykes
  • Iris glaucescens Bunge
  • Iris griffithii Baker
  • Iris hellenica Mermygkas
  • Iris illyrica —endemic to Balkan Peninsula.
  • Iris imbricata Lindl.
  • Iris junonia Schott ex Kotschy
  • Iris kashmiriana Baker
  • Iris lutescens Lam.
  • Iris marsica I.Ricci & Colas.
  • Iris mesopotamica—Mesopotamian iris
  • Iris orjenii—Orjen iris
  • Iris pallida—sweet iris, Dalmatian iris
  • * Iris pallida subsp. cengialti – Iris cengialti
  • Iris perrieri Simonet ex P.Fourn.
  • Iris pseudopumila Tineo
  • Iris pumila L.
  • Iris purpureobractea B.Mathew & T.Baytop
  • Iris relicta Colas.
  • Iris reichenbachii Heuff.—Reichenbach's iris
  • Iris revoluta Colas.
  • Iris sambucina L.
  • Iris scariosa Willd. ex Link
  • Iris schachtii Markgr.
  • Iris suaveolens Boiss. & Reut.
  • Iris subbiflora Brot.
  • Iris taochia Woronow ex Grossh.
  • Iris timofejewii Woronow
  • Iris variegata'' L.—Hungarian iris

It also includes thousands of ornamental plant hybrids, which have been divided into various height categories.
This section of irises was first described by Spach.
Irises from Russia and Northwest china.
Mostly rhizomatous, and flowering in late spring.
Note psammos derives from the Greek word for sand.
Oncocyclus irises are rhizomatous perennials. They also generally need rich soils that drain easy and are in full sun. Most also prefer a dry period after flowering.
The oncocyclus irises are mostly from Turkey, Caucasus and Iran. The flowers usually only have one flower, which is veined or spotted. Some of these species have been bred with bearded irises to create unique colours and markings. Oncocyclus is a Greek word, with onco meaning mass, or bulk, and cyclus meaning circle. In 1846, the term 'Oncocyclus' was first used by C.H. Siemssen as the Genus Oncocyclus in 1846 in Botanische Zeitung. Baker then re-classified it to a subgenus in 1877, than Dykes lowered it to a section in 1914, where it currently remains.
Mostly from the mountainous regions of Iran, Afghanistan and the Altai Mountains. Most irises have a stem that has 2 flowers. It was named in 1904 by Robert Lynch in his book The Book of The Iris after Dr Regel.
Hybrids of Regelia irises and Oncocyclus irises are known as 'Regelicyclous'.

''Hexapogon''

Mostly from the desert area of Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan.
Most irises have beards on the falls and standards.
Note 'hexa' refers to the number 6 and 'pogon' refers to the Greek word for beard.
Mostly from the mountainous regions of Eastern Asia.
Most irises have flowers that have blothes or colour spots on.