Kumaon Iris

Description

Iris kemaonensis, the Kumaon iris, is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Pseudoregelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Tibetan China, Bhutan, India, Kashmir and Nepal. It has light green or yellowish green leaves, that extend after flowering time. It has a short stem, 1–2 fragrant flowers that are purple, lilac, lilac-purple or pale purple. They also have darker coloured blotches or spots. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It is often known as Iris kumaonensis, due to a publishing error. In China, there has been some confusion between Iris dolichosiphon (another Pseudoregelia iris) and Iris kemaonensis, they have similar flower forms, but Iris kemaonensis flowers are paler then Iris dolichosiphon but are strongly mottled, as well as a smaller perianth tube. It has short, thick rhizomes, which are gnarled and knobbly. Under the rhizomes are thin, fleshy secondary roots, that can grow up to 10 cm long. They are not stoloniferous. On top of the rhizome are the fibrous remains of last seasons leaves. The leaves are variable in size, they can grow up to between 6–20 cm (2–8 in) long, and between 0.2 and 1 cm wide, at blooming time. Before the plant produces fruit or seed capsules, they extend up to between 34–45 cm (13–18 in) long, taller than the flowers. They are light green, greyish green or yellowish green. They are glaucous, and linear, with a rounded apex. In mild areas, it is semi-evergreen, but generally they are deciduous. It has a slender short stem, that can grow up to between 5–12 cm (2–5 in) tall. The stem has 2 to 3 green, lanceolate, (scarious) membranous, spathes (leaves of the flower bud). They can be between 5–6 cm (2–2 in) long and between 1 and 1.8 cm wide. They are scarious (membranous) and acuminate (pointed) at the tips. They can sheath or cover the base of the stem. The stems hold 1 or 2 terminal (top of stem) flowers,which bloom in late spring, between May and June (in UK and Europe) and between April and July (in India). The scented flowers, are 4–8 cm (2–3 in) in diameter, they come in shades of purple, from lilac, to lilac-purple, to pale purple. The flowers are spotted, or blotched with a dark colour. They are mottled like the skin of a reptile. The flowers are very similar in form to Iris hookeriana, but similar in shade to Iris kashmiriana.