Pobegonosy Iris

Description

Iris stolonifera is a plant species in the genus Iris; it is also in the subgenus Iris, and in the section Regelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the mountains of Turkestan, between Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. It has red-skinned stolon roots and rhizomes, glaucous, long, blue-grey leaves, and bi-coloured flowers, in various shades from milky white, to blue, purple, pale lilac, lavender and brown. It normally has blue to yellow beards on all the petals. It has a rhizome, that in the spring, sends out thin, and long, (up to 20 cm (8 in) long,) secondary roots (or stolons), which have a red skin. At the end of each stolon, it forms a new rhizome, creating widespread colonies of plants. Other 'Regelia section' irises also have stolons. Also Iris japonica, Iris prismatica and Iris henryi produce stolons. It has dark blue-green, or glaucous leaves. They are sword-shaped, and 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long, and 0.8 cm to 2 cm wide. They are prominently veined, and semi-evergreen, disappearing after summer, after the blooming period is over. It has a stem, that can grow up to between 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall, or 40–60 cm (16–24 in) tall. The stem has (scarious) membranous, spathes or bracts (leaves of the flower bud), which are 6.5 cm (3 in) long. The stems hold 2–3 terminal (top of stem) flowers,blooming in late spring, between April and June, or May, or between May and June. The scented, flowers are 7–8 cm (3–3 in) in diameter. They are variable in colour, normally bi-coloured, ranging from milky white, to blue, to purple, (or pale lilac, or lavender,) and brown. They normally have a blue (or pale lilac,) centre with a brown, or reddish-bronze, or yellow margin. Iris stolonifera is native to temperate areas of central Asia. It grows on dry rock slopes, along dry creeks, and upland meadows. One reference (Flora of S.S.S.R.) mentions wet meadows and stream sides, also mentioned by the British Iris Society Guide, but herbarium specimens do not support this habitat, also the other irises in the Regelia section are also mountainside irises. They can be found at an altitude of 800 to 2,400 m (2,600 to 7,900 ft) above sea level.