Nowadays, the spring flower tide has slowly faded, and the gorgeous rhododendrons have occupied the major territories, but there are a group of colorful flowers in the garden, roadside, and mountain.
A touch of nobility, a touch of ethereality, a touch of playfulness, a touch of elegance, a touch of arrogance, with the romance of April, showing a different kind of beauty, they are the wonderful music played by the Iris family.
The so-called iris does not refer to a plant, but to a perennial herb of the genus Iris in the family Iris.
Named after a flower
Iris Chinese the name "Iris" is a bird of the eagle family, and the iris flower is called because its petals are shaped like the tail of the bird.
△ Iris
The Latin name lris of the genus Iris is derived from the Greek word meaning rainbow. In Greece, iris is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in the spring, and the ancient Greeks believed that the flowers of the iris genus were rich in color and shone with rainbow-like luster in the sunlight, so they named this type of colorful plant after the rainbow.
No one in France does not love irises
According to legend, the founder of France, the Frankish king Clovis I, once used the iris as his symbolic emblem, and the later Capetian, Valois and Bourbon dynasties all used this pattern as their clan emblem.
According to historical records, the real combination of irises and the French royal family was King Louis VII of France. In 1150 AD, King Louis VII of France, before leading the Crusades, printed three irises on his military flag, thus marking the royal power of the royal family.
In 1375, Charles V changed the iris flower on the royal symbol to three golden petals, symbolizing the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
/。 Flower parts for each of their duties
Iris does not have petals and calyxes.
Iris is different from common flowers, and Iris has not yet differentiated into petals and sepals with different morphological functions, so we collectively call them flower covers.
△ The 6 flower indumental pieces of the iris 2.4.6 are the vertical petals; 1.3.5 are the flag petals
Although the flowers of Iris are varied, their basic morphology is similar. Iris has 6 flower covers, divided into two rounds.
The 3 pieces of the outer wheel are larger, generally curved outward and droopy, called the hanging flap, like a tongue sticking out downwards, which is the platform on which pollinators land. The inner wheel 3 pieces are usually a little smaller, upright in an arch, called the flag flap.
△ Flower pillar
Is there any doubt that there should be no 9 pieces? What are the top three pieces? These three pieces are called flower pillars.
In some species , the base of the outer chakra is a tuft of whisker-like hairs or chicken-crown-like appendages , traits that are important features that divide the species of iris.
△ Real flower illustration
The outer chalk and the peduncle are combined in pairs to form a tunnel-like corolla tube, and the nectar is hidden at the end of the tunnel. To obtain nectar, bees and bumblebees must "crawl" through tunnels.
At the top of the front of the tunnel, the iris stigma is already there waiting for the pollen brought by the bees (the pollen falls on the stigma and soon germinates, and new life develops in the ovary under the flower sheet).
For that sweetness, the bees that have contributed the pollen will squeeze hard into the flowers, at this time, they will encounter the stamens that release the pollen, and while the bees enjoy the sweetness, the new pollen is loaded on them. After sucking the nectar of this flower, the "porters" will carry the pollen to the next flower.
/。 A large family of rainbow-like flowers
Iris is a super-large family of mixed species, and their living range covers almost the entire northern temperate zone, with up to 300 species in the genus and 60 species distributed in China.
In addition to botanical classification, Iris also has rhizome morphological classification, horticultural classification and other classification methods. Iris plants are divided into two main categories according to rhizome morphology, namely rhizome iris and bulbous (bulb) iris.
△ Classification by morphology Simple illustration
Most of the rhizome irises we see around us are rhizome irises, and most of the cut flower varieties are derived from bulbous irises.
Rhizomes of irises
01 Morphological classification
Mainly based on the presence or absence of hairs (hair ran) on the coat, it is divided into bearded (Pogon) and beardless (Beardless, Apogon).
There are hair groups such as German iris, vetiver iris, dwarf iris and Cremu iris.
△ German iris
Hairless irises are divided into two categories: crowned ornaments and uncrowned ornaments. The iris of the crownless ornament is smooth without any appendages, and the base of the flower piece often has beautiful and colorful patterns, such as Siberian iris, Louisiana iris and calamus.
△ Siberian iris flowers are smooth without any appendages
The base of the petals of the outer wheel of the iris with crown ornaments will also have protruding crown-like ornaments in addition to very obvious markings, such as butterfly flowers, irises (here refers to a plant name, native to the mainland) and so on.
△ Iris
The butterfly flower has a very similar relative, called the flat bamboo orchid. Both of these types are common iris types around us, the flowers are light blue or white, and the flowers of the two are extremely similar, and it is almost difficult to distinguish from the flower type.
△ Butterfly flowers
△ Flat bamboo orchid
Distinguishable only from the rhizome part, the flat orchid has a pronounced aboveground stem, while the butterfly flower does not.
△ Butterfly flowers have no stems on the ground
△ Flat bamboo orchid has an aboveground stem
02 Horticultural classification
According to horticultural classification, it is mainly divided into four systems according to parental, geographical distribution and ecological habits, namely German iris, Louisiana iris, Siberian iris and pseudo-iris.
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★ The German iris family is dominated by German irises, including the Hungarian iris, vetiver iris, Mesopotamian iris, Kashmiri iris, and hybrids derived from its counter-hybridization.
The varieties bred in the early days of this system are of medium height, and the recently bred varieties are mostly high-type haired irises of tetraploidy.
△ German iris
German iris is a widely cultivated hybrid with tall irises with thick rhizomes, sword-shaped leaves, and gray-green. Its flower leaves are tall beyond the leaves, and the young bracts are green and grassy, sometimes slightly membranous. The flowers are large, and the inner chakra is turned upside down and inverted.
△ Hungarian iris
The Hungarian iris is one of the parents of the German iris, the plant is relatively short, often under 40 cm in height, the outer chakra is densely covered with maroon stripes, and the inner chakra is yellow and upturned.
△ Vetiver iris
Vetiver iris is a hairy group of irises native to Central and Southern Europe and Southwest Asia. It is one of the parents of the German iris, similar in form to the German iris, but its young bracts are transparent membranous, and the petals of the inner and outer wheels are also pale blue-purple.
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★ The Louisiana iris family, several species of irises in Louisiana, USA and a group of hybrids from which they are parents, including copper-red irises, Virginia irises, fine-leaved irises, short-stemmed irises, etc.
The iris rhizome of this system is robust, even up to 180cm high, a stem of flowers, some varieties of flowers 5-10 flowers, flowers without hair, a variety of flower colors.
△ Copper red iris
The copper red iris plant is 45-80 cm tall, with an irregular crown diameter and hardiness. From late spring to summer, 4-6 slender branches bloom on the bronze or orange-red flowers, which thrive in pond gardens or swamp gardens.
△ Fine-leaved iris
The fine-leaved iris is blue-purple and about 7 cm in diameter. The outer flowers are lobed spoon-shaped, no appendages on the midrib, often cilia, and the inner flowers are lobed inverted lanceolate, upright, and the top of the peduncle is lobed and narrowly triangular.
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★ The Siberian iris family is mainly a hybrid of Siberian iris and brook, including the golden vein iris, yunnan iris, delaware iris and so on.
The flowers in this system are white, bluish-purple, and also pink, and the flower covers are reticulated. Adaptable, drought-tolerant and humid.
△ Siberian iris
△ Xisun
The Siberian iris is a very popular plant in Japan, it is very similar to the German iris, and there are also very large flag-like inner chakra flowers that are lobed, but the outer chakra flowers of the Siberian iris are split without hair.
Siberian iris and brook are indistinguishable sisters who look very similar. Siberian iris flowers are blue-purple or dark blue-purple, with ovate cylindrical fruit that is 2-3 times longer and wider. The flowers are sky blue and the fruit is ovate cylindrical, 3-4 times longer than the width.
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★ The pseudo-iris family is dominated by the original species of pseudo-iris, including dwarf iris and grass leaf iris.
There are many excellent varieties in this system, the outer flowers are round, the seed coat is parchment papery, the climate adaptability is strong, it grows well on moist soil, and it is light-loving and shade-tolerant.
△ Iris original species
Pseudo-iris, also known as pseudo-coastal iris and European iris, belongs to the hairless group. Originated in Spain, France and other places. The rhizome is small. Each stem has 1-3 flowers, the flowers are light blue or purple-red, and there are subspecies of flowers that are golden yellow, white yellow-edged, and purple. Flowering period is from June to July.
△ Dwarf iris
Dwarf irises are extremely short irises of the hairy group. The leaves are linear and sword-shaped, with dwarf flower stems and one flower per stem. The flowers are white, viola, purple and other colors, with black spots. The vertical lobe is folded backwards, densely hairy, and the flag flap is equal in length and upright. The flowers have an aroma and bloom in early April.
Bulbous iris
Bulbous iris is a perennial herb with oblong-ovate bulbs and a brown skin membrane on the outside. The leaves are linear, the stems are erect, with 1 to 2 flowers, with stalks, and the flowers are purple, lilac or yellow. The flowers are rounded with macula in the center, thinly braided at the base, and very long claws. The flag petal is oblong and oval, equal in length as the vertical lobe.
Bulbous iris consists of three groups, namely the Spanish Iris Group, the Reticulated Iris Group, and the Juno Iris Group, which is rarely cultivated.
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Spanish Iris
★ The bulb of the Spanish iris is slender and smaller. The stem is 30-60 cm tall. The leaves are linear, with 1-2 flowers at the apex of each stem, purple, and macula on the throat of the weeping lobe. Flowering period is from May to June.
Hybrid improved varieties have white, yellow, blue, purple and other flower colors, mainly used for cutting flowers, such as 'Blue River', 'Canarian Bird' and so on.
△ Spanish iris
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★ The Dutch iris is a hybrid of the Spanish iris and the Tangier iris. The height of the plant is 40 to 90 cm, each stem has a flower, many flower colors, white, yellow, blue, purple and other colors, and there are yellow or orange spots on the throat of the vertical lobe.
Cultivation is common, there are many varieties, the flowering period is about 2 weeks earlier than the Spanish iris, mainly for cut flower production. Important varieties such as 'Ideal', light blue-purple; 'Blue Magic', dark blue-purple; 'Blue Ribbon', dark blue-purple; 'Widgewood', light blue-blue, etc
△ Dutch iris
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★ The British iris is native to the British mountains. The bulbs are slender and pear-shaped. There are 2-3 flowers per stem. The flowers are large, blue-purple with weeping lobes oval, wider than the first two, and have macula on the throat. The flowering period is about 2 weeks later than that of the Spanish iris. Varieties such as 'Blue Queen', 'Emperor' and so on.
02 Mesh Iris Group
The reticulated iris group is a dwarf iris with a smaller bulb than the Spanish iris group and a reticulated membrane. The flowers are the same length as the flower stem, and the post-flower leaves are slightly longer than the flower stem. The orange-yellow spots on the throat of the weeping lobe have white edges on either side. Flowering period is from March to April.
△ Network vein iris
More cultivated are reticulated iris, bulb skin milky white, the stem is very short, only 2.5 cm, there are 2-4 leaves, up to 30 cm after the flower, the top flower is solitary, dark purple, fragrant. Horticultural hybrids are purple, blue-purple, navy, purple and other colors.
/。 Aroma from the earth
Who would have thought that it would actually be one of the rarest (and most expensive) perfumes in the world, especially when you know that its rhizome, which still looks rather ugly in its natural state, is actually used in this field.
This species of iris, which is mainly used in perfumes and cosmetics, is called vetiver iris, which may have originated in the Mediterranean region and later spread to other countries around it, except for northern Europe, where the climate was too cold for it.
△ Vetiver iris
Plants that have grown on barren stone ground for at least 3 years are selected, their rhizomes are harvested, then peeled, rooted, washed and dried.
After 3 years, the iris rhizome is mashed and then distilled by long water vapor, and the essential oil extracted from the iris root powder has concentrated the main components contained in the rhizome. Even people with a less sensitive sense of smell can smell the sweet aroma of violet in this smell.
After removing the fatty acids from iris butter, you can get a net oil of iris, and this yellow liquid has a lower extraction rate of only two to three in ten thousand! So it's not hard to understand the high price of this raw material from 15,000 euros per kilogram. Because of this, iris is generally only used in high-end perfumes, cosmetics and soaps. The powder of the iris rhizome can also be extracted with alcohol to obtain a resinous essence.
/。 Iris language
Iris is often used to symbolize love and friendship, representing the messenger of love, and the flower language is long-term thoughts.
/。 Iris blossoms, beautiful as a fairy tale
Cut flower care
The flowering period of fresh cut flowers is about 5 days, and the correct maintenance can prolong the flowering period of flowers.
【Pruning】 Remove rotten, excess branches and leaves, and trim at oblique angles. 【Cleaning】Clean the vase and the base of the branch daily.
【Water level】Shallow water level, about 1/3 of the water level of the vase, change the water daily.
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