Iris loczyi

It was once thought to be a form of Iris tenuifolia,[2] especially in China.[3]

It has a slender, fibrous, knobbly or gnarled, brown-black rhizome.[3][4][5] It forms hard thick, tussocks or clumps of plants.[5][6][7] On top of the rhizome are maroon-brown, fibrous (or straw-like), remnants (of last seasons leaves), as sheaths (of the new leaves).[8][9][7]

It has long and thin, linear, green-grey leaves, measuring 20–40 cm (8–16 in) long and 2-5mm wide.[2][4][8] The leaves are sometimes evergreen.[9]

It has flower stems, that are 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long.[2][10][11] They are sometimes only just above the ground level.[3][8][12]

It has 3 green, lanceolate, between 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long and 1.5 cm wide, spathes (leaves of the flower bud).[3][6]

The stems hold normally 1, (rarely 2) terminal (top of stem) flowers,[2] blooming in late spring,[4] between April and June.[3][8][5]

The fragrant,[8] flowers are 4–7 cm (2–3 in) in diameter, and come in shades of pale violet,[3] blue violet,[2][10][7] lavender,[9][11] and light blue.[8]

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'.[13] The falls are oblanceolate (top wider than the bottom) or slightly obovate, 6 cm (2 in) long and 1–2 cm wide. They are veined with a darker shade and have a white or cream (occasionally yellow), signal area (central area).[6][7][9] The single coloured standards are also oblanceolate, erect, 4.5–5 cm (2–2 in) long and 7–8 mm wide.[3][4][5]

It has a long, slender perianth tube of 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long.[5][6][9]

It has very short pedicels.[8][5] It has 2.5 cm long stamens and 1.2 cm ovary.[3] It has short style branches, 4 cm long and 8 mm wide, in similar shades as the standards.[3][4][5]

After the iris has flowered, it produces a reddish-brown ovoid to cylindric seed capsule, 4–7 cm (2–3 in) long and 2 cm wide between June and September. The capsule has 6 veins, and a short beak-like appendage on the top.[3][8][5]

It is written as 天山鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as tian shan yuan wei in China.[3][18]

It has the common name of Tianshan Iris (in China),[19][20] or Tian Shan Mountain iris[18] or Iris Lochan (or Iris Lochi) (in Russia).[6][21][22]

It was published and described by August Kanitz in Exped. Szechen (Növényt. Gyujtesek Eredm. Grof Szechenyi Bela Keletazsiai Utjabol) Vol.58. tab. 6. fig. 2. (with an illustration) in 1891.[10][23]

The Latin specific epithet loczyi honors 'Lajos Lóczy' (1849–1920) the Hungarian geologist and geographer,[24][25] who participated in Count Béla Széchenyi's (the son of István Széchenyi) 1877–1880 expedition to Central Asia, western China, Japan, India, Japan, Java and Borneo.[26]

It was originally found in Ala Archa Valley of Uzbekistan.[4]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 2 October 2014.[18]

As of January 2015, it is listed as unchecked by the RHS.[27]

Iris loczyi is native to a wide region, of various temperate areas of Asia.[18]

It is found growing on high mountain grasslands,[4][9][5] (or steppes)[6] and sunny hillsides.[3] It is widespread on the mountains of Central Asia.[7] At altitudes of between 2,200 to 3,000 m (7,200 to 9,800 ft) above sea level.[4][9][12]

It is also found in clumps by the roadside in the Barskon Pass of Kyrgyzia.[29]

It is listed in the IUCN 'Red Book' of the Republic of Tuva as a species at vulnerable status.[21]

It was mentioned in (under the name Iris tianschanica) in Czerepano's 'Vascular Plants of Russia and Adjacent States (the Former USSR)' in 1995.[30]

It is an endangered species in Uglovsky District of Russia. Only 20 individuals were counted. Although the plants were not eaten by cattle, destruction of the habitat is the major factor in limiting its range.[8]

Iris loczyi is not common in cultivation in the UK,[2] Europe,[9][12] or Russia.[6] It is normally only grown by botanical gardens or collectors.[9]

It is hardy in Ashgabat and Tashkent.[6] It is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures.[9]

Like others in the Series Tenuifoliae, it prefers sandy well drained soils.[2][8][9]

It prefers positions in full sun.[12] It prefers to be kept dry during the winter, needing the protection of bulb frames (in the UK).[2]

Aphid Dysaphis tulipae can be found on the plant.[31]

In China, it is forbidden to export plants or seeds. The reason is not known, but may be due to the medicinal usage of the plants.[9]

• Russian webpage with many photos of Iris loczyi

• Data related to Iris loczyi at Wikispecies