Iris pallida
Encyclopedia
Iris pallida is native to the Dalmatian coast (Croatia) but widely naturalised elsewhere. It is a member of the subgenus
iris, meaning that it is a bearded iris, and grows from a rhizome
.
It is cultivated for extraction of essential oils from its rhizome (orris root
). This iris prefers rocky places in the mediterranean and submediterranean zone and reaches sometimes montane regions at its southern range in Montenegro. It grows to a stem height of 50 to 80 centimeters. The leaves are bluish-green in color, and sword-shaped, 40 to 50 centimeters in length, and 2.5 to 3 centimeters in width. The inflorescence
, produced in May/June, is fan-shaped and contains two or three flowers which are usually pale purplish to whitish.
of Iris pallida s.l. are recognised by some authors as species: Iris pallida ssp. cengialti (with deep purplish flowers) from Slovenia and adjacent Italy, Iris pallida ssp.illyrica
from the North Dalmatian coast, Iris pallida ssp. pseudopallida from the South Dalmatian coast. Another subspecies is Iris pallida ssp. musulmanica. The newly-described Orjen Iris (I. orjenii) has white flowers.
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
iris, meaning that it is a bearded iris, and grows from a rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
.
It is cultivated for extraction of essential oils from its rhizome (orris root
Orris root
Orris root is a term used for the roots Iris germanica, Iris florentina, and Iris pallida. Once important in western herbal medicine, it is now used mainly as a fixative and base note in perfumery, as well as an ingredient in many brands of gin....
). This iris prefers rocky places in the mediterranean and submediterranean zone and reaches sometimes montane regions at its southern range in Montenegro. It grows to a stem height of 50 to 80 centimeters. The leaves are bluish-green in color, and sword-shaped, 40 to 50 centimeters in length, and 2.5 to 3 centimeters in width. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
, produced in May/June, is fan-shaped and contains two or three flowers which are usually pale purplish to whitish.
Subspecies
Three subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of Iris pallida s.l. are recognised by some authors as species: Iris pallida ssp. cengialti (with deep purplish flowers) from Slovenia and adjacent Italy, Iris pallida ssp.illyrica
Iris illyrica
The Illyrian Iris is a perennial plant from the iris family , that grows up to 40 cm in height. According to the IOPI the status of this plant is still unresolved; it is often treated as a subspecies of the Dalmatian Iris .Its flowering period is May and June...
from the North Dalmatian coast, Iris pallida ssp. pseudopallida from the South Dalmatian coast. Another subspecies is Iris pallida ssp. musulmanica. The newly-described Orjen Iris (I. orjenii) has white flowers.