Iris milesii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Iridaceae
Genus:	Iris
Subgenus:	Iris subg. Limniris
Section:	Iris sect. Lophiris
Species:	I. milesii
Binomial name
Iris milesii Foster
Synonyms [1]
None known

Iris milesii (also known as the red flower iris) is a plant species in the genus Iris, subgenus Limniris and in the section Lophiris (crested irises). It is a rhizomatous, beardless perennial plant, native to the Himalayas, India and China. It has pinkish-violet, or pinkish purple, or pinkish-lavender or pinkish lilac flowers, with a fringed yellow or orange crest (or ridge). It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

Description

It is similar in form to Iris tectorum (another crested iris). ^{[2] [3]}

It has a short, thick, fleshy, greenish rhizomes, ^{[4] [5] [6]} which are 1–1.5 cm in diameter, ^[7] they are larger than other crested irises. ^[8] Underneath the rhizomes, are fleshy roots. ^{[2] [9] [10]} The rhizome is marked on top, with marks or scars of previous seasons leaves. ^{[2] [9] [10]} The rhizome produces lateral (non-flowering) shoots, these later become new growth points for the next season. ^{[2] [9] [10]} During the winter months, it goes dormant, the leaves die, leaving the rhizome bare on the soil surface. ^{[11] [12]}

It has around 8, ^[2] basal leaves, ^{[9] [10] [8]} which are slightly glaucous, ^{[2] [11] [13]} yellowish green, ^{[2] [14]} or greyish green, ^[7] or pale green. ^{[13] [15] [16]} They are sword-shaped, ^{[7] [16]} they can grow up to between 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long and 2.5–7 cm (1–3 in) wide. ^{[10] [17]} The leaves are visibly ribbed, ^{[2] [18] [14]} and change in size along the stem. ^{[2] [8] [13]} They die away in the autumn, ^{[3] [11]} to re-appear in the summer. ^[17]

It has slender, ^{[12] [5]} stems that can grow up to between 30–90 cm (12–35 in) tall. ^{[16] [19] [20]} It has 2–4, ^{[2] [7]} branches, ^{[15] [16] [19]} which are 15–20 cm (6–8 in) long. ^[7]

Iris milesii and Iris wattii are by far the tallest species of the crested irises group. ^[21]

The stems have several spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that are 2.5–3.8 cm (1–1 in) long, ^{[7] [13]} and 2–2.5 cm (1–1 in) wide. ^[7]

The stems (and the branches) hold between 3 and 4 flowers, ^[7] in early summer, ^{[4] [12]} between April and May, ^{[7] [11]} or May to July. ^{[2] [9]} They are short lived, but a continuous display can carry on for many weeks, ^{[8] [5]} 8 to 10 weeks. ^[11]

The flowers are 6–10 cm (2–4 in) in diameter, ^{[6] [13] [16]} they are smaller than Iris japonica, ^[12] and Iris tectorum. ^{[3] [11]} The flowers come in shades of pinkish-violet, ^{[2] [9]} or pinkish purple, ^{[3] [13] [22]} or pinkish lilac, ^{[4] [13] [23]} pinkish-lavender, ^{[18] [16]} or pale mauve. ^{[6] [19]}

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'. ^[8] The falls are reflexed, ^{[4] [23]} obovate, ^[7] 3 cm long, ^[4] with a blade marked with dark purple, violet or lilac, lines, spots or mottled (streaks or blotches), ^{[16] [19] [20]} it has a finely fringed, ^[18] or toothed, ^[4] orange, ^{[7] [14] [16]} or white, ^{[18] [8]} or yellow crest (or ridge). ^{[5] [13] [20]} The standards are narrowly obovate, 4–5 cm (2–2 in) long. ^{[7] [13]} They are self-fertile. ^[2]

It has articulated pedicels, that are 2.5–4 cm (1–2 in) long. ^{[7] [13]}

It has a small perianth tube, 1–1.5 cm long, ^{[7] [13]} 2.5 cm long stamen, milky white anthers, 3 cm cylindric ovary. ^[7]

It has reddish purple, or lilac style branches, which are 3 cm long with deeply fringed (fimbriated) edges. ^{[7] [13]}

After the iris has flowered, it produces an ovoid-globose, ^[7] or ovoid-cylindrical seed capsule, ^{[2] [9]} between June and August. ^[7]

It is 2.8–3.3 cm (1–1 in) cm long, ^[9] with veining. ^[7] Inside the capsule, are pyriform (pear shaped) black brown seeds, ^{[2] [7]} with a white aril. ^[7]

Biochemistry

In May 1984, a study was carried out on the rhizomes of Iris milesii, to ascertain their chemical constituency. Several isoflavones (chemical compounds) were found. ^{[11] [24]}

In December 1884, a further study was carried out on the rhizomes of Iris milesii and Iris kemaonensis (under old spelling 'kumaonensis'). It found several isoflavones in both rhizomes. ^[25]

Tetrahydroxy-3'-methoxyisoflavone (C₁₆H₁₂O₇) can be found naturally within the iris, ^[26] rhizomes. ^[27]

Genetics

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. ^[8] It has been counted several times, 2n=26, Simonet, 1932 and 2n=26, Chimphamba, 1973. ^[10] It is normally published as 2n=26. ^{[11] [18] [20]}

Taxonomy

It has the common names of red-flower iris, ^{[9] [22] [28]} and waterbird iris (in Australia). ^{[23] [29]}

It is written as 红花鸢尾 in Chinese script, ^[7] and known as hong hua yuan wei in Pidgin in China. ^{[7] [28]}

The Latin specific epithet milesii refers to Mr Frank Miles, who introduced it into cultivation in about 1880. ^{[3] [8] [13] [15]} These plants were grown from seeds collected by his cousin in the Kulu district to the north of Simla. ^{[3] [8] [13]}

It was first published and described by Michael Foster in Gardeners' Chronicle Volume 20 page 231 in 1883. ^{[7] [30]} John Gilbert Baker also described the iris in Curtis's Botanical Magazine Volume 112, tab.6889 in 1886. ^{[13] [28]}

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 9 January 2003 and then updated on 1 December 2004. ^[28]

Iris milesii is an accepted name by the RHS. ^[16]

Distribution and habitat

Iris milesii is native to temperate and tropical regions of Asia, ^{[21] [29] [30]}

Range

It is found in temperate Asia, within the Chinese provinces, ^{[12] [30]} of Sichuan, Xizang and Yunnan. ^{[7] [11] [28]}

It is also found in tropical Asia, within the States and union territories of India, in Himachal Pradesh, ^[18] Uttar Pradesh, ^[17] Jammu and Kashmir. ^{[11] [17] [28]}

It is also thought to be found in Tibet. ^[30]

Habitat

It grows in the conifer forest margins of hillsides, ^{[11] [17] [19]} in meadows, ^[11] in open groves (and clearings), ^[19] and wet valleys. ^{[7] [18]}

They can be found at an altitude of 1,500–2,700 m (4,900–8,900 ft) above sea level. ^{[11] [17]}

Conservation

They are 'abundant' in the wild. ^[18]

Cultivation

Iris milesii is very hardy, ^{[5] [13] [15]} to between USDA Zone 3 and Zone 8, ^[22] or Zone 10. ^[29] It is not hardy in the North Carolina climate, because it does not survive the winter. ^[21] It is hardy in UK, ^{[3] [14]} to −15 °C (or lower for short periods). ^[17] It is also hardy, ^[11] to Europe Zone H3, ^[4] although it still needs a sheltered position. ^[13]

It is tolerant of normal garden soil, ^[3] but prefers well drained, ^{[11] [5]} sandy, peaty soils. ^{[17] [5]} It does not like lime. ^[12] It is tolerant of soils that are mildly acidic or mildly alkaline. ^[22]

It prefers a sunny ^{[17] [15] [22]} or semi-shade position. ^{[5] [6] [29]}

It also has average water needs. ^{[11] [22]} It prefers to have moisture during the growing season, but it will not survive in waterlogged sites/ ^[18]

It can be grown in mixed flower border, ^{[11] [14] [6]} or rock gardens. ^[11]

It does suffer virus problems that Iris tectorum. ^[11]

It is not rarely found in cultivation. ^{[18] [17] [5] [21]}

Propagation

It can also be propagated by division or by seed growing. ^{[11] [22]}

Although the Iris can produce plenty to seed, ^[6] propagation via division is quicker and more reliable. ^[11]

Toxicity

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. ^[22]

References

Sources

• Chowdhery, H. J. & B. M. Wadhwa. 1984. Flora of Himachal Pradesh.
• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 75.
• Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970–. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
• Waddick, J. W. & Zhao Yu-tang. 1992. Iris of China.

External links

• Media related to Iris milesii at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Iris milesii at Wikispecies