Iris sintenisii

Iris sintenisii is intermediate in appearance and form, between Iris graminea and a small Iris spuria.[2]

It has thin (or slender),[3][4] wiry (or hard), short rhizomes.[5][6][7] That are covered with the brown, fibrous remains of the last seasons leaves.[4][6][7]

Over time it forms many branches to create a tight clumps or tussocks.[8][9][10]

It has linear, glaucous green to dark green, rigid, acuminate (tapering to a long point), grass-like leaves.[11][12][13] They are often described as evergreen.[14][15][16] They have clear pronounced veins.[3][4] They can grow up to between 10–50 cm (4–20 in) long,[17] and 0.3–0.5 cm wide.[18][19][20] The leaves often exceed the height of the flower stems.[21][22][23]

Iris sintenisii is smaller than Iris graminea.[24] It has cylindrical or slightly compressed, unbranched stems.[7][17][25] They can grow up to between 10–40 cm (4–16 in) long.[26][27][28]

The stems have 2–3,[6] green spathes, (leaves of the flower bud), that are 3.5–7.5 cm long.[4][6][25] The leaves are all keeled.[6][7][25] The inner leaves are slightly longer the outer leaves.[6]

The stems or peduncle hold 1 or 2,[20][21][23] terminal (top of stem) flowers,[6][21] between late spring and summer,[14][15][27] between June and July.[19][28][29]

The flowers are similar in form to Iris graminea but in different shades of colour.[24] The flowers are not scented,[18][25] and can be up 5–6 cm (2–2 in) in diameter,[20][18][30] and come in shades of violet-blue,[2][10][31] blue-purple,[21][30][12] blue,[29][16][32] purple,[3][27][33] and violet.[20][13]

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'.[9] The slender falls are slightly panduriform (shaped like a fiddle).[6] They have a rounded or ovate/elliptic blade, measuring 1.3–1.4 cm long and 0.9–1.3 cm wide.[4][7][25] Then they have a narrowing before a long oval haft (connecting to the stem), measuring 2.5–3 cm long and 0.3–0.5 cm wide.[4][7][21] The haft is veined with red-purple.[6] They are white or cream, heavily veined violet-blue or purple.[30][11][12]

It has single coloured (violet-blue to blue-purple),[21] upright standards that are oblanceolate and 3–4 cm long and 0.4–0.5 cm wide.[7][9][23]

It has single coloured (violet-blue to blue-purple), style branches, that are 2.6–2.8 cm long and 0.5–0.6 cm wide, with recurved lobes.[4][6][7] It has a small slender ovary 1–2 cm long, with a slender beak.[4][25] It also has small, triangular crests.[6]

This iris is uniquely pollinated by ants, as the flowers secrete nectar at the base of the petals.[17][11]

After the iris has flowered, it produces an oblong, seed capsule,[3][5] 1.5 cm long and 1 cm wide.[4] It also has a slender beak appendage up to 2 cm long.[4]

Genetics

Iris sintenisii

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.[9] It has been counted several times; 2n=16, ex Randolph and Mitra 1956, Lenz, Bulletin of the American Iris Society169: 55. 1963; 2n=16, 32 Simonet 1934; 2n=16, Lenz 1963 and 2n=16, Popova, M., & I. Cesmedziev, (1975 & 1976).[32] Normally the chromosome count is recorded as 2n=16, 32.[6][17][31]

In 2013, a study was carried out on the morphological and anatomical properties of Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima and Iris sintenisii were investigated. The cross-sections of root, scape and leaf parts of the plant were examined. During the anatomical studies, the wall thickenings of the endodermal cells were found to be three-sided. Leaf features, such as papillae, metaxylem number in the root and arrangement of vascular bundles can be used as distinguishing characters for the Iris species. [4]

An illustration from Curtis Botanical Magazine of Iris urumovii (a synonym of Iris sintenisii)

It is known as Sintenis-Schwertlilie in Germany.[34]

It has the common name of Sintenisa iris.[22][35] The Latin specific epithet sintenisii refers to Paul Sintenis, a botanical collector.[2]

Specimens were first collected by Sintenis from the Dobrudja district, (of Bulgaria) on the western coast of the Black Sea, to the south of the mouth of the Danube.[21] It was then published and described by Victor Janka von Bules in 'Természetrajzi Füz' (printed in Budapest) Vol.1 on page 244 in 1877.[36][37]

In 1994, it was given Award of Garden Merit (AGM).[19][30] It was then verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003,[37] and is an accepted name by the RHS.[38]

Iris sintenisii is native to temperate regions of Asia Minor,[3][5][13] and eastern Europe and south eastern Europe.[37][7][20]

Range

It is found in Turkey (Asia Minor),[6][7][39] Within Europe, it is found in Albania,[25][31][37] Bulgaria,[5][31][26] Romania,[5][26][37] and parts of former Yugoslavia,[18][31][26]

Strandzha Nature Park, Bulgaria

It is also found within the south western parts of the Russian Federation or USSR.[6][7][19] Also found in North Macedonia.[40][41]

One reference mentions France and Ukraine,[17] but these could be naturalized populations.

It is hardy to between USDA Zone 5a (−28.8 °C (−20 °F)) to USDA Zone 9b (−3.8 °C (25 °F)).[15] It is also in European Zone H2.[7] It can tolerate temperatures as low as −18 °C.[17][33][18] It is hardy in the UK,[19] although within Russia, it is not hardy in St Petersburg, but thrives in the Botanical Garden of Stavropol.[13][22]

It prefers to grow in well-drained soils,[33][8][29] that do not dry out during the summer.[6] The shallow roots do not like intense summer heat, which dries out the soil.[6][9][29] They are tolerate of soils containing limestone.[17] They can grow in neutral to alkaline soils (with a pH level of between 6.6 and 8.5).[15]

The like to grow in positions in full sun or partial shade.[8][18][29]

During the summer or growing season, the iris requires lots of moisture to bloom.[6][14] But care must be taken not to over-water.[15]

They can be grown in a rock garden or rockery,[3][17][10] or in the front of a flower border.[6] They are also suitable for use growing in trough or sink gardens (using old large disused sinks).[10][23]

Care must be taken when weeding during the autumn and early spring, as the leaves are very similar to grass.[18]

flower in bud

Irisi sintenisii can be propagated by division or by seed growing.[15] Since, like many other spuria irises, it resents root disturbance,[6] also the roots are very vulnerable to damage during clump division.[14] It should be propagated by seed.[6] The seeds can be collected from the capsules, when ripe and should be sown direct into clear soil, outdoors or into pots.[6][15] The young seedlings can then be transplanted either during the beginning of spring or at the start of autumn (fall).[6][14] They should be plant with a planting distance of 40 cm, as they do not like root competition.[29] This species, which is pollinated by ants, is closely related to Iris graminea.[11]

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.[15]

For a long while Iris brandzae was considered a subspecies of Iris sintenisii, but it is now classified as a separate species.[42]

Other known cultivars are 'Sintenissii Uromovi' and 'Topae'.[32]

• Davis, P. H., ed. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
• Goulandris and Goulimis, 1969. Wild flowers of Greece, 185.
• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 116.
• Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea.
• Grey Wilson and Mathew, 1981. Bulbs l28.

• Media related to Iris sintenisii at Wikimedia Commons
• Several images of the iris
• 2 images of the iris
• Data related to Iris sintenisii at Wikispecies