Iris junonia

Description

Iris junonia is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Cilicia (now part of Turkey), within the Taurus Mountains. It has glaucous short leaves, tall stems with several branches, numerous flowers in various colours from blue-purple, lavender, pale blue, cream, white and yellow, with brown veining and white tipped orange beards. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. Its status is still unclear, if it is a synonym of Iris germanica or a separate species. It has short rhizomes and a few long secondary roots. It has glaucous and sheathing leaves.The leaves can grow up to between 12–38 cm (5–15 in) long, and between 3–5 cm (1–2 in) wide. They are herbaceous, and die in autumn and it remains dormant over winter. It is a tall growing species, with a stiff stem, or peduncle, that can grow up to between 50–65 cm (20–26 in) tall. It has numerous, or 2–3 lateral branches (or pedicels). The stem has spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which are green, 2.5–7.6 cm (1–3 in) long and scarious above. The stems (and the many branches) hold up to 7 flowers, between May to June. The chunky flowers, come in various colours. From blue-purple,: 125  lavender, pale blue, white, cream, and yellow, or blended.The yellow forms are similar to Iris purpureobractea flowers. 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'.: 17  The hafts (the section of petal closest to them stem), are white with brown-purple, or brown veins.: 125  In the centre of the falls are beards, row of small hairs, white tipped with orange.: 125  After the iris has flowered, it produces seed capsule, (that has not yet been described). Inside the capsule, are seeds (called pollen) that are 121 long x 123 wide (in microns). In 1989, a karyological study was carried out on 4 iris species in Turkey; including Iris junonia Schott et Kotschy ex Schott, Iris purpureobractea B. Matthew et T.Baytop, Iris taochia Woronow ex Grossh., and Iris schachtii. It found the chromosome counts of the iris species and Iris junonia was counted as 2n=4x=48. In 2013, a study was carried out on the cultural conditions of Iris species in Turkey.