Iris kirkwoodiae

The forms of Iris kirkwoodiae are between Iris gatesii and the also dark-veined Iris sofarana.[2][3] It is also very similar in form to Iris susiana.[4]

It has a stout and compact rhizome,[2] which is stoloniferous and between 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) long, underneath the rhizome are long secondary roots, which help feed the plant mineral salts from the soil.[5]

It has 6-7 leaves, which grow up 30 cm (12 in) tall and between 0.5–2 cm (0.20–0.79 in) wide,[2][5] They are falcate,[2] or sickle shaped.[5]

It is tall,[6] growing up to between 30–75 cm (12–30 in) tall.[7][3][8]

It blooms between April and May,[2][9][5] with large,[5][3][10] sphere-like flowers.[6] It was determined that the plants found in Maras, Turkey seem to have the largest flowered forms.[2] It has a faint pleasant scent.[5]

The flowers are between 13–18 cm (5.1–7.1 in) in diameter,[2][5] and come in shades of beige,[5] white or pale greenish ground,[3][8][7] which is covered with violet,[3] or dark purple veins and spots.[2][9]

Like other irises, 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'.[11]^: 17 The standards are generally paler than the falls.[2] The standards are 7–10.5 cm (2.8–4.1 in) long and are 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) wide. The deflexed falls,[3] have a deep purple round or obovate signal patch,[2][8] and in the centre of the fall, is a sparse,[2] purple or brownish-purple beard.[7][8] Occasionally forms have a red-brown or yellow beard.[2]

It has style arms which have erect or reflexed lobes.[2]

After it has flowered, it produces a seed capsule that is about 9 cm (3.5 in) long.[2]

It is known as Maras kurtkulağı in Turkish.[9][12] and it is written in Hebrew as איריס קירקווד .[13]

Specimens of the iris were collected by E. K. Balls and also by S. Albury, M. Cheese, and J. Watson in 1966, from Bishmishly, Northern Syria and Amanus Mountains, Turkey.[8] It was then originally described and published as Iris kirkwoodii in 'Botaniska Notiser', Vol.125 Issue 4 on page 499 in 1972.[1][8][14]

The specific epithet kirkwoodii, refers to Mrs Grace Kirkwood. A botanist along with Shaukat A. Chaudhary and Carolyne Weymouth first published and described other 'Section Oncocyclus' irises Iris assadiana and Iris swensoniana. With the standard form of G.Kirkw.[15] It was later published in Davis, P.H. (ed.) (1984). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands 8: 381–450. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.[8]

The spelling of the iris was corrected in accordance with Melbourne ICN Art. 60.12 and Rec. 60C.1(b) in 2011 to Iris kirkwoodiae, because Grace Kirkwood was a woman but much of the older published literature has the old spelling as I. Kirkwoodii.[8][14][16][17]

Iris kirkwoodiae was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated 21 May 2013.[17] Although Iris kirkwoodiiis listed in the RHS Plant Finder 2017 and it is a tentatively accepted name.[18]

In February 2016, several 'Section Oncocyclus' irises Iris paradoxa, Iris iberica, Iris barnumiae, I. kirkwoodiae, Iris sofarana were resolved as monophyletic.[6]

It has 2 synonyms that are often called subspecies of Iris kirkwoodiae; Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. calcarea,[6][19][20] (or Iris calcerea,[21]) and Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. macrotepala.[5] Iris kirkwoodiae ssp. macrotepala is sometimes referred to as a variety, such as Iris kirkwoodiae var. macrotepala. Having longer leaves and slightly different flowers,[2][7] it was also published in 1976 in 'Bot. Not.' Vol.128:[8]

Iris kirkwoodii is native to temperate areas of western Asia.[17][14]

The plant is considered 'rare,[5] as its natural habitat on Mount Ahır is threatened with destruction, due to the construction of houses and associated effects, road construction and the alteration to vineyards and gardens.[9]

It likes to grow in rocky soils, which stay dry in summer.[5]

Iris kirkwoodii has several known crosses, such as: 'Code Of Silence', 'Delicate Embroidery', 'Diamond Tiara',[24] 'Engraved Invitation' (I. calcarea x I. yebrudii v. edgecombii),[25] 'Known Only To Him', 'Prim And Proper'.[8]

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[26]

• Davis, P. H., ed. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. 1965-1988 (F Turk)
• Mathew, B. The Iris. 1981 (Iris) 53–54.

• Has an image of the Iris kirkwoodii flower
• Has several images of the Iris kirkwoodii flower (in Turkish)

Data related to Iris kirkwoodiae at Wikispecies