{{short description|Species of plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = |genus = Iris |display_parents = 2 |parent = Iris sect. Iris |species = griffithii |authority = Baker |synonyms = None known |synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Iris griffithii Baker is an accepted name |date= 23 March 2012 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-321906 |publisher=theplantlist.org (The Plant List) |accessdate=12 September 2015}}</ref> }}
'''''Iris griffithii''''' is a plant species in the genus ''Iris'', it is also in the subgenus ''Iris''. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Afghanistan. It has short, sickle-shaped leaves, short green stem and purple flowers with white beards. Several specimens exist within herbaria around Europe, but it is rarely cultivated.
==Description== It is similar in form to ''Iris chamaeiris''.<ref name=irisbotanique>{{cite web |title=Chapter I Rhizomatous Iris (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=14 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=handbook>{{cite web |first=William |last=Dykes |authorlink=William Rickatson Dykes |title=Handbook of Garden Irises |year=2009 |url=http://www.beardlessiris.org/reviews/handbook%20of%20garden%20irises%20-%20dykes.pdf |publisher=beardlessiris.org (The Group for Beardless Irises) |accessdate=1 November 2014}}</ref> Which is now a synonym of ''Iris lutescens''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iris chamaeiris Bertol. is a synonym of Iris lutescens Lam. |date= 23 March 2012 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-321688 |publisher=theplantlist.org (The Plant List) |accessdate=15 October 2015}}</ref> Although has various differences from it, to separate the two species.<ref name=handbook/>
It has a stout rhizome.<ref name=british>British Iris Society (1997) {{Google books|pL6uPLo7l2gC|A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation|page=36}}</ref>
It has erect, falcate (sickle shaped) leaves that can grow up to between {{convert|15|-|30|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and between 2.7 cm wide.<ref name=british/>
It has a slender green stem or peduncle, that can grow up to between {{convert|12|-|40|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall.<ref name=british/><ref name=cassidy>{{cite book |last1=Cassidy |first1=George E.|last2=Linnegar |first2=Sidney |date=1987 |edition=Revised |title=Growing Irises |location=Bromley | publisher=Christopher Helm |page=119 | isbn=0-88192-089-4}}</ref><ref name=pacific>{{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}}</ref> It is classed as a dwarf species.<ref name=american>{{cite web |first=Alain |last=Franco |title=(SPEC) Iris griffithii Baker |date=26 November 2013 |url=http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/Spec/SpecGriffithii |publisher=wiki.irises.org (American Iris Society)| accessdate=29 September 2014}}</ref> It is similar in size to ''Iris kashmiriana'', but the rest of form is very different.<ref name=irisbotanique/>
The stem has 2 stem leaves, from the midpoint, upwards,<ref name=british/> and a long green, spathes (leaves of the flower bud).<ref name=handbook/> The spathes are different to ''Iris pseudopumila'', which has membranous and curled spathes.<ref name=handbook/>
The stem holds 2 terminal (top of stem) flowers,<ref name=cassidy/> blooming early summer, between May or August.<ref name=handbook/>
The flowers come in shades of purple.<ref name=handbook/><ref name=cassidy/><ref name=pacific/> Like other irises, 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'.<ref name=ClaireAustin>{{cite book |first=Claire |last=Austin |title=Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia |year=2005 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=0881927309 }}</ref>{{rp|17}} The falls are about 5 cm long, in the centre of each petal, they have a dense white beard.<ref name=british/><ref name=cassidy/> The standards are about 4 cm long.<ref name=british/>
The perianth tube is {{convert|2|-|5|cm|0|abbr=on}} long,<ref name=handbook/><ref name=british/> which is also different to ''Iris pseudopumila''.<ref name=handbook/>
It has 3 cm long styles arms, and a 0.8 cm long anther.<ref name=british/>
After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule, which has not yet been described.
===Biochemistry=== As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.<ref name=ClaireAustin/>{{rp|18}} It has not been counted.
==Taxonomy== The Latin specific epithet ''griffithii'' refers to William Griffith (1810–45), English botanist and Superintendent of Calcutta Botanic Garden.<ref>D. Gledhill {{Google books|NJ6PyhVuecwC|The Names of Plants|page=184}}</ref> Who collected the iris in Afghanistan.<ref name=handbook/>
It was first published and described by Baker in 'Handbook of the Iridaceae' (Handb. Irid.) Vol.32. in 1892.<ref name=ipni>{{cite web |title=Iridaceae Iris griffithii Baker |url=http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=438671-1 |publisher=ipni.org (International Plant Names Index) |accessdate=21 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=grin>{{GRIN | accessdate=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=checklist>{{cite web |first=D. |last=Podlech |title=Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Afghanistan |year=2012 |url=http://www.sysbot.biologie.uni-muenchen.de/de/personen/podlech/flowering_plants_afghanistan.pdf |publisher=sysbot.biologie.uni-muenchen.de |accessdate=18 May 2015}}</ref>
It was thought that no plants had been found in the wild, since William Rickatson Dykes had described the iris in 18,<ref name=british/> but several specimens are stored within herbaria.<ref name=pacific/><ref name=american/> Although, in 2012, it was listed on a checklist of the flowering plants of Afghanistan.<ref name=checklist/> The herbarium specimens, have only one sterile leaf, and the colour has faded from the flowers.<ref name=british/>
It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated on 2 December 2004.<ref name=grin/>
It is not listed in the Encyclopedia of Life, as of 14 October 2015.
''Iris griffithii'' is not an accepted name by the RHS, as of 14 October 2015.
==Distribution and habitat== It is native to temperate central Asia.<ref name=pacific/><ref name=grin/>
===Range=== It is found in Afghanistan,<ref name=pacific/><ref name=ipni/><ref name=grin/> (within the province of Kunar Province,<ref name=checklist/> and Nuristan Province,<ref name=cassidy/>). Including on the border between north India and Afghanistan.<ref name=cassidy/>
==Cultivation== It is very difficult to find for sale or in cultivation.<ref name=irisbotanique/>
It is thought best (by Dykes) to plant between May and August, after the flowers have faded.<ref name=handbook/>
===Propagation=== Irises can generally be propagated by division,<ref>{{cite web |title=How to divide iris rhizomes |url=http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/propagating/how-to-divide-iris-rhizomes/169.html |publisher=gardenersworld.com |accessdate=12 October 2015 |archive-date=3 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403230752/http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/propagating/how-to-divide-iris-rhizomes/169.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> or by seed growing.
==Toxicity== Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.<ref>David G Spoerke and Susan C. Smolinske{{Google books|a7-f66fRfzQC|Toxicity of Houseplants|page=236}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== * Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 28. * Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963–. Flora iranica.
==External links== *[http://www.globalspecies.org/ntaxa/2216743 Global Species notes (although has incorrect flowers)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305192036/http://www.globalspecies.org/ntaxa/2216743 |date=2016-03-05 }}
{{Wikispecies-inline|Iris griffithii}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15570766}}
griffithii Category:Plants described in 1892 Category:Garden plants Category:Flora of Central Asia Category:Flora of Afghanistan