Iris tenuifolia

Iris tenuifolia is very similar in form to the Mediterranean Iris unguicularis. As they both have very small stems and the seed capsules are often hidden within the leaves of the plant.[2]

It has a dark brown, thin, short, knobbly, tough, wood-like rhizomes.[3][4][5] Underneath, it has a network of fibrous roots.[6] On top of the rhizome, at the base of the leaves, are the brown or red-brown, fibrous remains of the previous seasons leaves. Which act as sheaths, for the new leaves.[3][5][7] The sheaths can be up to 6–20 cm (2–8 in) long.[6][5]

It can be either a single plant or can grow into thick clumps of plants.[5][8]

It has greyish-green, linear, twisted, leaves, that can grow between 20–60 cm (8–24 in) long and 1.5–2 mm wide.[7][9][10] They do not have a mid-vein but parallel veins,[3][4][6] and are acuminate (ending in a point).[5] They continue to grow after blooming, and can end up as a mass of twisted leaves.[11]

The leaves are longer than the flowering stems.[5]

It has a very short flowering stem or scape, 10–30 cm (4–12 in) long.[12][13][14] Although, sometimes the stems do not emerge above ground.[3]

It has 2 to 4, pointed (acuminate), membranous, green, between 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 8–10 mm wide, spathes (leaves of the flower bud).[3][6][7]

The stems hold normally 1–3, terminal (top of stem) flowers,[7][9][15] blooming in spring, between April and May,[3][6][13] or late as early June (in Russia).[10]

The scented flowers,[5] are 4–7 cm (2–3 in) in diameter,[7] and come in shades of pale violet,[3][14] lilac,[5][15][14] pale blue,[9][15][13] or purple.[4][10][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'.[16] The falls are spatulate (spoon shaped) or obovate-lanceolate,[4][6] 4.5–6 cm (2–2 in) long and 1.5 cm (1 in) wide.[3][6][7] They have a thin central yellow crest or mid-vein, dark veins (on a pale colour), and a band of papillose (or small hairs).[3][5][14] The narrower, oblanceolate, erect standards are 5 cm (2 in) long and 5–9 mm wide.[3][4][6]

It has a long, slender thread-like, perianth tube, 4.5–8 cm (2–3 in) long.[3][5][7]

It has 3 single coloured, style branches, 4 cm (2 in) long and 4–5 mm wide.[3] They attenuate (narrow slightly) and at the tips, are toothed.[4][6][5]

It has a slender 3–4 mm long pedicel,[5] 3 cm (1 in) long Stamens and a cylindric 7–12 cm (3–5 in) long and 2 mm wide, ovary.[3]

After the iris has flowered, between late July and early August (in Russia),[10] or between August and September (in China). It produces an ovoid or sub-globose, 3.2–4.5 cm (1–2 in) long and 1.2–1.8 cm (0–1 in) wide, seed capsule. It has short beak-like appendage on the top.[3][4][6]

The seeds are oval (or turbinate – like a top) shaped, wrinkled and black-brown to brown.[6][5][10]

Often, the seed capsule is hidden by the long leaves.[2]

It is written as 细叶鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as xi ye yuan wei in Pinyin Chinese.[3][4][25]

The Latin specific epithet tenuifolia comes from the almagamtion of two Latin words tenuis meaning 'fine or thin' and folia mean leaf.[26]

It has the common names of Egeria Iris.[27][28] Note; 'Egeria' means water buffaloes or cows pulling (in China).[4] Another common name is narrow leafed iris,[29] or fine leaved iris,[30] or slender-leaf iris,[25] or silk leaves Iris.[4][27]

It was published and described by Peter Simon Pallas in Reise Russ. Reich. Vol.3 on page 714 in 1776.[31]

It was introduced to Russia in 1812, and was noted as growing in the front garden of Mr. A. Razumovsky near Moscow.[30]

It was later published with an illustration in The Gardeners' Chronicle 3rd. Series Vol.59 on page 196 on 8 April 1916.[32]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 2 October 2014,[25] then as of January 2015, it is listed as a tentatively accepted name by the RHS.[33]

Iris tenuifolia on the left bank of Syr-Darya river in Kazakhstan

Iris tenuifolia is native to a wide region, of various temperate areas of Central Asia.[25][33] Which extends from the Volga through Turkestan into Mongolia,[12] and China.

In 2003, it was listed as an endemic vascular species of the temperate steppe region of Inner Mongolia, China, along with Stipa grandis, Artemisia frigida, Festuca ovina, Thymus serpyllum, Caragana microphylla, Koeleria cristata and others.[35]

It is included in the IUCN 'Red Data Book' of the Chita Oblast of 2002, listed as 'rare'. It is now protected in Dauria and Khopyor reserves.[30]

Iris tenuifolia is rare in cultivation in the UK.[9][36] It is rare in cultivation in the US as well.[11]

They are more grown by specialised collectors or for scientific and research purposes.[6][11]

It was sometimes used as annual plant and only planted during the summer (in the UK, in 1800s).[36]

It is hardy, if sited in a northern continental climate. Similar to Nebraska, North Dakota or South Dakota.[11] It is hardy in parts of Russia. It has been grown in Moscow, St Petersburg and Chita.[10]

It prefers sandy or sandy loam soils, similar to the desert habitat.[6][9][15] It prefers alkaline soils.[8]

They prefer positions in full sun.[8]

It needs to be kept dry during winter, needing the protection of bulb frames (in the UK). It only needs water during the growing period.[9] The plant loses its foliage during the winter, as it is removed by the forces of wind, snow and other bad weather conditions. It then re-grows leaves, in April and May.[11]

It has high drought and heat tolerance (desert-like conditions).[8][11][15]

The seed of Iris tenuifolia is rarely used by western horticulturists, as the plants rarely flower.[11] William Rickatson Dykes notes that it made no satisfactory growth and never flowered.[2]

In other flowering regions, the seed can be harvested in autumn, washed, fresh or dried.[6]

In 2001, a study was carried to monitor the effects of the iris, within a herbal remedy for kidney protection was carried out.[29]

The Iris genus has been used as a traditional folk medicine, used to treat a variety of diseases, such as cancer, inflammation, bacterial and viral infections.[37] It was found that compounds isolated from Iris germanica have anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-malarial parasite and anti-TB and other positive effects.[38]

The roots, seeds and flowers of the iris, are used as ingredients in herbal medicines. They have been used as tocolysis (also called anti-contraction medications or labor represents) and to treat fetal metrorrhagia.[6]

On 24 December 2009, a patent was granted, for the extraction of Iris tenuifolia. Due to its chemical compounds being used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.[37]

• Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR).
• Khassanov, F. O. & N. Rakhimova. 2012. Taxonomic revision of the genus Iris L. (Iridaceae Juss.) for the flora of Central Asia. Stapfia 97:175.
• Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR.
• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 123–124.
• Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea.
• Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China.
• Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994–. Flora of China (English edition).
• Media related to Iris tenuifolia at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Iris tenuifolia at Wikispecies