It has a stout stem, that can grow up to between {{convert|5|-|10|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall.[1][3][13] come in various shades,[19] from yellow to purple.[4][10][{{rp|118}}]
But some botanists and sources disagreed with this re-classification, and still refer to the species as Iris attica.[1][11][34]
It is listed as Iris pumila ssp. attica in the Encyclopedia of Life.[35]
Distribution and habitat
It is native to south eastern Europe.[9][15][28]
Range
It is found in the Balkans,[7][9][12] within the countries of Greece,[6][13][28] (including Mount Egaleo,[11][36] Delphi,[10] Parnassos, Peloponnese,[11][37] and many other regions of Greece,[11]) former Yugoslavia,[14]{{rp|184}}[19][{{rp|118}} Turkey,[1][5][7] and Macedonia,][ (including near Ohrid).[6]]
In 2013, Iris variegata L. and Iris pumila subsp. attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) K.Richt was found in Albania, during field trips in Prespa National Park and on Pashtriku Mountain in 2006, 2011 and then in 2012.[33]
Habitat
It grows on the well drained, sunny, rocky mountainsides.[4][7][11] On stony slopes, stony heaths and on rocky ground.[11] It has been found with Fritillaria fleischeriana found growing on areas of rocky limestone amongst scattered juniper trees.[5]
They can be found at an altitude of {{convert|400|-|2100|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.[11]
Conservation
It status in the wild is currently unknown, but thought to be very common.[4]
Cultivation
File:Crassula sp (14596562154).jpg The leaves of Iris attica growing with a species of crassula and Dianthus repens
It is hardy to between USDA Zone 3 and Zone 8,[ or Zone 10.[4]]
It is hardy to Zone H2 in Europe (meaning −15 to −20 °C (5 to −4 °F).[38]).[1]
It is thought to be not very hardy in the UK (due to the dampness in winter), so best grown an alpine house or bulb frame,[14]{{rp|184}}[24] or deep pot.[{{rp|118}} It is prone to viral diseases, if left in water or overwatered.[7]]
It prefers to be grown in well drained soils,[12][[15] (including gritty loam,[24]) with plenty of aeration.[8] Similar to a scree.[9]]
It can tolerate a ph level of between 6.1 and 6.5 (mildly acidic) – 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline).
It prefers a position in full sun,[9] to partial shade.[[15]]
It has average water needs, during the growing months, but needs a period of summer dormancy (a period of dryness after the blooms have faded).[4][7]
It can be grown in a rock garden,[12] in crevices or between small stones, or in large troughs.[8]
Propagation
It can be propagated by division of the rhizomes or by seed growing. Collecting the seeds from the ripe and dry capsules (after the plant has bloom), they can be grown straight away, or stored.
Hybrids and cultivars
In 1995, it was reported by (Whitehouse and Warburton), that Iris pumila (an allotetraploid) is a cross between Iris attica and Iris pseudopumila (another diploid iris).[8][34][39]
Several cultivars have been created from Iris attica including; 'Attica Parnes', 'Dr. Crenshaw', 'Herrick' and 'Sounion'.[13]
Iris attica crosses (with other irises) include; 'Cap Sounion', 'Chancelot', 'Goldenes Fuellhorn', 'Goldhaube', 'Mama Mia' and 'Nibelungehort'.'[13]Toxicity
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), can cause stomach pains and vomiting if mistakenly ingested. Handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[[40]]
Culture
In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, the goddess Persephone and her companion nymphs (the Oceanids along with Artemis and Athena) were gathering flowers such as rose, crocus, violet, iris (also called 'agallis' or ἀγαλλίς (in Greek script),[41] lily, larkspur,[16] and hyacinth.[42] Flowers in a springtime meadow before she was abducted by the god Hades.[16]
It has been suggested that 'agallis' mentioned, was a dwarf iris, (in form to leaf and root shape described,[43]) and identified as Iris attica.[44][45]
References
1. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) {{Google books|CkxWrDqtWLQC|The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification (2011) |page=246}}
2. ^1 2 3 4 5 {{cite web |title=Iris summary |date=14 April 2014 |url=http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/Iris/Iris_Summary.pdf |publisher=pacificbulbsociety.org |accessdate=23 November 2014}}
3. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 {{cite web |title=Iris attica |url=http://www.alpine-plants.eu/?406,en_iris-attica |publisher=alpine-plants.eu |accessdate=9 September 2015}}
4. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 {{cite web |first=D. |last=Kramb |title=Iris attica |date=15 July 2003 |url=http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Iris-mandshurica |publisher=signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America) |accessdate=5 September 2015}}
5. ^1 2 Basak Gardner and Chris Gardner {{Google books|08KbBQAAQBAJ|Flora of the Silk Road: The Complete Illustrated Guide|page=17}}
6. ^1 2 3 4 {{cite web |first=Milan |last=Blazek |title=Low iris – Iris pumila |url=http://www.ibotky.cz/clanky/herbar-kosatce/114-kosatec-nizky-iris-pumila.html |publisher=ibotky.cz |accessdate=5 September 2015}}
7. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 {{cite web |title=Iris Rhizomatous Chapter 1 (Part 4) Pumilae |url=http://irisbotanique.over-blog.com/article-chapitre-i-les-iris-rhizomateux-partie-2-105950846.html |publisher=irisbotanique.over-blog.com |accessdate=5 September 2015}}
8. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 Kelly Norris {{Google books|6YwFZmzxgecC|A Guide to Bearded Irises: Cultivating the Rainbow for Beginners and Enthusiasts|page=123}}
9. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 {{cite web |title=Iris attica |url=http://www.wrightmanalpines.com/plant/iris-attica |publisher=wrightmanalpines.com |accessdate=5 September 2015}}
10. ^1 2 {{cite web |first=Kate |last=Barnard |title=AGS Greece Tour 2011, An Alpine Odyssey |url=http://www.merlin-trust.org.uk/Assets/reports/535%20Kate%20Barnard.pdf |publisher=merlin-trust.org.uk |accessdate=9 September 2015}}
11. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 {{cite web |title=Iris attica Boiss. & Heldr. in Boiss. 1850 |url=http://www.greekflora.gr/el/flowers/0315/Iris-attica |publisher=greekflora.gr |accessdate=9 September 2015}}
12. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 {{cite web |title=Iris attica |url=http://www.dancingoaks.com/home/dok/page_2389/iris_attica.html |publisher=dancingoaks.com |accessdate=5 September 2015}}
13. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 {{cite web |first=Terry |last=Laurin |title=(SPEC) Iris attica Boiss. & Held. |date=8 October 2014 |url=http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/Spec/SpecAttica |publisher=wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society)| accessdate=5 September 2015}}
14. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 {{rp|184}}--> Although, very occasionally they can reach 15 cm tall.[{{cite web |title=Species Iris, Iris pumila subsp. attica |url=http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/102468/#b |publisher=davesgarden.com |accessdate=5 September 2015}}]
15. ^1 2 3 4 5 {{cite web |title=Iris attica |url=http://www.edrom-nurseries.co.uk/shop/pc/Iris-attica-p9531.htm |publisher=edrom-nurseries.co.uk |accessdate=5 September 2015}}
16. ^1 2 3 {{cite web |title=Flora 1, Plants of Greek Myth |url=http://www.theoi.com/Flora1.html |publisher=theoi.com |accessdate=9 September 2015}}
17. ^Lawrence Durrell {{Google books|teuK_ISSwncC|The Greek Islands (1977)|page=227}}
18. ^{{cite book |first=Claire |last=Austin |title=Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia |year=2005 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-0881927306 }}
19. ^1 2 {{cite web |title=Garden Bearded Irises |url=http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/GardenBeardedIrises |publisher=pacificbulbsociety.org |accessdate=5 September 2015}}
20. ^{{rp|184}}--> Including whitish,[ pale yellow,][ greenish yellow,][{{cite book |last1=Cassidy |first1=George E.| last2=Linnegar | first2=Sidney | date=1987 |edition=Revised | title= Growing Irises |location=Bromley | publisher=Christopher Helm | isbn=978-0-88192-089-5}}]
21. ^{{cite journal |last=Koca |first=Fehmiye |date=2003 |title=Morpho-anatomical and karyological studies on Iris pumila (Iridaceae) |url= |journal=Bocconea |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=625–639 |doi= }}
22. ^{{cite journal |last=Sauer |first=Wilhelm |last2=Leep |first2=Hans Jürgen |date=1979 |title=Karyologische Untersuchungen an anatolischen und südost-europäischen Zwergiris-Sippen: Iris attica, I. mellita und I. reichenbachii (Iridaceae) |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |volume=131 |issue= 1–2|language=German |pages=81–106 |doi= 10.1007/bf00984124}}
23. ^{{cite journal |last=Löve |first=Áskell |date=November 1971 |title=IOPB Chromosome Number Reports XXXIV |jstor=1218605 |journal=Taxon |volume=20 |issue=5 |pages=785–797 |doi= }}
24. ^1 2 British Iris Society (1997) {{Google books|pL6uPLo7l2gC|A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation}}
25. ^[-->==Taxonomy==It has the common name of 'Greek Iris'.][{{cite web|title=Iris attica |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/21765/Iris-attica/Details |publisher=www.rhs.org.uk| accessdate=5 September 2015}}]
26. ^{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=A.W. |last2=Stearn |first2=William T. |date=1972 |edition=Revised |publication-date=1963 | title= A Gardener's Dictionary of Plant Names | publisher=Cassell and Company | page=50 | isbn=978-0304937219}}
27. ^Sue Gordon (Editor) {{Google books|6PBHQd-lPWYC|Horticulture - Plant Names Explained: Botanical Terms and Their Meaning|page=31}}
28. ^1 2 3 {{GRIN | accessdate=5 September 2015}}
29. ^{{cite web |title=Iris attica Boiss. & Heldr. |date= 23 March 2013 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-321583 |publisher=theplantlist.org (The Plant List)|accessdate=5 September 2015}}
30. ^{{cite book |title=Iridaceae Iris attica Boiss. & Heldr. |url=http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=438375-1 |publisher=ipni.org (International Plant Names Index) |accessdate=9 September 2015}}
31. ^{{cite web |title=Iris pumila subsp. attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) K.Richt. is an accepted name |date=23 March 2013 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-329121 |publisher=theplantlist.org (The Plant List) |accessdate=7 September 2015}}
32. ^Bob Gibbons {{Google books|cG5FxRp7li8C|Greece (2003)|page=159}}
33. ^1 {{cite journal |last=Shuka |first=Lulezim |last2=Xhulaj |first2=Murat |date=June 2013 |title=Iris variegata L. and Iris pumila subsp. attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) K.Richt, two new taxa for the flora of Albania |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269401934 |journal=Buletin I Universitetit Shtetëror Të Tiranës. (BSHN) |volume=15 |issue= |pages=172–178 |doi= |accessdate=9 September 2015}}
34. ^1 {{cite web| first=John | last=Moons | title=Canadian Iris Society, CIS newsletter, Winter 2014 Volume 58 Issue 1 |year=2014 | url=http://www.e-clipse.ca/previews/CIS/C-V58N1.pdf | page=13 | publisher=e-clipse.ca (Canadian Iris Society) | accessdate=9 September 2015}}
35. ^{{cite web |title=Iris cuniculiformis |url=http://eol.org/pages/5866415/overview |publisher=eol.org |accessdate=9 September 2015}}
36. ^{{cite journal |last=Sarlis |first=George P. |date=3 December 1979 |title=The Flora of Mount Egaleo (Attica, Greece) |url=http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/PHY_20_3_4_0261-0278.pdf |journal=Phyton (Austria) |volume=20 |issue= |pages= 261–278 |doi= |accessdate=9 September 2015}}
37. ^{{cite web |first=Claire |last=Cockcroft |title=Parnassos and The Peloponnese: Spring Wildflowers of Southern Greece |url=http://www.agc-bc.ca/uploads/images/file_view/Slide_List_for_Parnassos_and_The_Peloponnese.pdf |date=1 April 2010 |publisher=agc-bc.ca |accessdate=9 September 2015}}
38. ^{{cite web |title=Plant Hardiness |url=http://theseedsite.co.uk/hardiness.html |publisher=theseedsite.co |accessdate=3 August 2015}}
39. ^Dan H. Meckenstock {{Google books|otggqXHrZtgC|Breeding Red Irises (The Carotenoids) 2005 |page=117}}
40. ^David G Spoerke and Susan C. Smolinske {{Google books|a7-f66fRfzQC|Toxicity of Houseplants|page=236}}
41. ^{{cite web |title=ἀγαλλίς |url=http://lsj.translatum.gr/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CE%B3%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AF%CF%82 |publisher=lsj.translatum.gr |accessdate=10 September 2015}}
42. ^R. P. Winnington-Ingram {{Google books|RhE8AAAAIAAJ|Sophocles: An Interpretation (1980)|page=116}}
43. ^Leonhard Schmitz (Editor) {{Google books|tv3hSAoRakQC|The Classical Museum: A Journal of Philology, and of Ancient History and literature, Volume 5 (1848)|page=60}}
44. ^{{cite web |title=Tag Archives: British Iris Society |url=http://wiebkerost.com/tag/british-iris-society/ |publisher=wiebkerost.com |accessdate=10 September 2015}}
45. ^Umberto Quattrocchi {{Google books|esMPU5DHEGgC |CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific names, Synonyms and Etymology (2012|page=128}}
Sources
- Kohlein, Fritz. 1987. Iris
- Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 23–24.
- Randolph, L. F. & J. Mitra. 1959. Karyotypes of Iris pumila and related species. Am. J. Bot. 46:93–102.
- Rechinger, K. H. 1943, Flora Aegaea. (Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, math.-naturw.) 741
- Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea. [= I. pumila subsp. attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) Hayek].
External links
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Iris attica}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBFDpeX_bE8 YouTube video of the Iris]
- Notes and images of the plant growing in a cool greenhouse
- Image of a large clump of iris growing
- Clear images of the white form of Iris attica
{{Commons category|Iris attica|position=left}}{{Clear}}{{Iris subg. Iris}}{{Taxonbar|from=Q21277510}} 7 : Iris (plant)|Flora of Greece|Flora of European Turkey|Flora of Yugoslavia|Garden plants of Europe|Plants described in 1859|Poisonous plants