A classification of Iris by Mathew

related links…..... Botanical Classification

As we gain knowledge new treatments of Classification reflect different authors evolutionary concept of the Genus Iris. Brian Mathew presented the following in The Iris revised 1989.

The Genus Iris

1. Iris subgenus Iris

• A. Section Iris (The bearded or pogon irises)
• B. Section Psammiris (Spach) J. Taylor)
• C. Section Oncocyclus (Siemssen) Baker
• D. Section Regelia Lynch
• E. Section Hexapogon (Bunge) Baker
• F. Section Pseudoregelia Dykes

2. Iris subgenus Limniris (Tausch) Spach (the beardless irises)

• A. Section Lophiris (Tausch) Tausch (the evansia irises)
• B. Section Limniris
  • (a) Series Chinenses (Diels) Lawrence
  • (b) Series Vernae (Diels) Lawrence
  • © Series Ruthenicae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (d) Series Tripetalae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (e) Series Sibiricae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (f) Series Californicae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (g) Series Longipetalae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (h) Series Laevigatae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (i) Series Hexagonae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (j) Series Prismaticae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (k) Series Spuriae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (l) Series Foetidissimae (Diels) Mathew
  • (m) Series Tenuifoliae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (n) Series Ensatae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (o) Series Syriacae (Diels) Lawrence
  • (p) Series Unguiculares (Diels) Lawrence

3. Iris subgenus Nepalensis (Dykes) Lawrence

4. Iris subgenus Xiphium (Miller) Spach

5. Iris subgenus Scorpiris Spach (the juno irises)

6. Iris subgenus Hermodactyloides Spach (the reticulata irises)

• Section Brevituba*
• Section Monlepis*
• Section Hermodactyloides*
• Section Micropogon*

*noted later in Davis & Hedge Festschrift

Mathew also suggested that the genera Belamcandra, Pardanthopsis, Hermodactylus, and Gynandrisis might eventually be included in Iris and now in 2010 all but Gynandriris have been included.

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-- BobPries - 2012-01-13