■ (SPEC) Iris virginica L.

1753, Botanical author Linneaus

Iris virginica L. (Carolus Linnaeus, 1753, Southeastern United States); Section Limniris, Series Laevigatae (Laev-B); Sp. Pl. ed 1: 39. 1753;

See below:

• * References
• * Synonyms
• * [[#Chromosome_counts][Chromosome counts]
• * Variations
• * Hybrids
• * Distribution and Cultivation

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References

Iris virginica L. (Carolus Linnaeus, 1753)
Curtis's Botanical Magazine
SEPARATING VERSICOLOR FROM VIRGINICAR. C. Foster 1937 accepted Waller's subsection Virginicae which included Iris versicolor and Iris virginica. He offers the following note "To differentiate between the two species comprising this subsection can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, in poorly preserved herbarium material. That there are actually two species, instead of one as assumed by Dykes, has been clearly shown by Anderson. By a lengthy series of diagrams showing the proportions of floral parts to each other, he established the fact that there are certain differences, the petals of Iris versicolor being lanceolate, short, narrow in proportion to the sepals, and oblanceolate to spatulate. Spathe, stem, and pedicel differences also are useful in separating the two. Nevertheless, despite Anderson's insistence that the outer spathe-valves of I. versicolor never become foliaceous, while those of I. virginica frequently do, one of the first specimens of the former seen by me in the Gray Herbarium, J. C. Parlin from North Berwick, Maine, has a foliaceous outer spathe. The frequency with which this occurs, however, is much less than is true of I. virginica. It is in the seeds of the two species that an almost infallible means of separation is found. I. virginica has seeds with a dull corky covering, like a smaller edition of seeds of the Hexagonae. I. versicolor has seeds with a thinner, shiny, hard covering, resembling those of I. setosa var. canadensis. The seeds and frequent foliaceous spathes of I. virginica strongly suggest a relationship with the Hexagonae. At the same time, when the spathes are not foliaceous, there is a marked similarity in size, shape, and even coloring to those of I. tridentata." Three varieties are listed below, but one, var. carolina, has not been formerly described although Viosca 1935 first suggested that three are warranted, R. C. Foster 1937 agrees. Iris virginica L.var. virginica (Small) Anders.var. shrevei (Small) Anders.var. carolina (Radius) Viosca
Addisonia 9: 4, 49. Dec. 1924 as carolina,;
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 23(3): 469. 1936, The Species Problem in Iris

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Synonyms

Addisonia 9: 4, 49. Dec. 1924 as carolina, Walter; carolina; carolina Blue Flag; Iris carolina Radius; Iris versicolor, Walter (not Linn. 1753).

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Chromosome counts

2n=70, 72 Laubin.

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Variations

Iris virginica cultivars:

'A. H. Nicholls', 'A Little Japanese', 'Autauga', 'Caroliniana', 'Charles Hardee', 'Contraband Girl', 'Dottie's Double', 'Dwarf', 'Frenier', 'Giant Orchid', 'Giant White', 'Grey Dawn', 'Iatan Titan', 'In Excelsis', 'Kimono', 'Miss Lake Charles', 'Native Wine', 'Nelsonii', 'Oglethorpe', 'Pond Lilac Dream', 'Pond Crown Point', 'Sasha', 'Shrevei', 'Shrevei--White variation', 'SlightlyDaft', 'Southern Wanderer', 'Virginica, Alba', 'Virginica, Broad Lilac Bitone', 'Virginica, Broad Violet Bitone' 'Virginica, Dark Blue' 'Virginica, Dark Veined' VIRGINICA DE LUXE 'Virginica, Giant Blue' 'Virginica, Giant White' 'Virginica, Light Blue' 'Virginica, Light Maroon' 'Virginica, Lilac Beauty' 'Virginica, Maroon' 'Virginica, Orchid' 'Virginica, Pale Violet' 'Virginica, Pale Violet with Deeper Veins 'Virginica, Pink' 'Virginica, Rebel Grey' 'Virginica, Rosy Glow' 'Virginica, Super Purple' 'Virginica, Violet' 'Virginica, White with Purple Veins' 'Virginica, Wide Blue'

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Hybrids

Iris virginica crosses:

'Beetroot', 'Brighter Days', 'Cast Ashore', 'Currierser And Currierser', 'Dark Aura', 'Gem Dandy', 'Gerald Darby', 'Gobble Gobble', 'Indomitable', 'Little Caillet', 'Mountain Brook', 'Norris Lavender', 'Nutfield Blue', 'Park Spark', 'Robusta', 'Rodnaya Ukraina', 'Spring Surprise', 'Versiva' Hybrids

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Distribution and Cultivation

Distribution: The distribution of the species gives clues as to its cultural requirements, although plants in cultivation can often tolerate a wider range of variables: The species is found in the following region: Eastern Canada to Central & Eastern U.S.A. within the following states and provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington DC Bonap's North American Plant Atlas shows the following map reproduced by permission of Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. Taxonomic Data Center. (http://www.bonap.net/tdc). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)]
Cultivation; Prefers moist soil, but can be grown in good garden soil, well-drained and flourishes in full sun to part shade.

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Interested in Iris Species? Please visit the: Species Iris Group of North America website.

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-- BobPries - 2010-02-22