Common iris

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Common iris
Swamp iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Swamp iris ( Iris pseudacorus )

Systematics
Class : Bedecktsamer (Magnoliopsida)
Monocots
Order : Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family : Iris family (Iridaceae)
Genre : Irises ( Iris )
Type : Common iris
Scientific name
Iris pseudacorus
L.

The marsh iris ( Iris pseudacorus ) - also yellow iris or fleur de lys - is a flowering plant in the family of the Iridaceae (Iridaceae). It is native to Europe and Western Siberia.

description

The swamp iris grows as a perennial , herbaceous plant that can reach heights of 1 to 2 m. It forms a thick, horizontally creeping rhizome ("root stock") as a persistence organ. The gray-green, sword-shaped, linear leaves are up to 90 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide, with a strong central rib and are arranged in two rows.

It blooms from late May to June. The inflorescence contains only a single flower. The yellow, hermaphrodite, zygomorphic , threefold flowers have, as with all irises , three darkly veined hanging leaves and three upright standards. It forms cylindrical, three-chamber capsule fruits that are 4 to 8 cm long and contain many seeds.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 34.

Occurrence and endangerment

The swamp iris is widespread in large parts of western Eurasia . The distribution area extends from Europe to the Caucasus and from the Mediterranean area to Iran. It was introduced as an ornamental plant in North America in the mid-19th century and has now spread over most of the continent. In Germany it occurs in almost all regions and is only absent in higher mountain areas.

Swamp irises can be found on the banks and in the silting zones of standing and flowing waters, in fens and in swamp forests.

As a location, the iris prefers a sunny to light-shaded place that is wet to damp. It thrives particularly well in water up to 20 cm - but can also tolerate a depth of 40 cm, but at which it does not bloom as much. Heavy clay soils are particularly suitable.

The common iris is not considered endangered in Germany, but is classified as particularly protected according to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance.

use

rhizome

The iris is widely used as an ornamental plant for water banks. It has been in culture since 1561 at the latest. There are several types (selection):

  • Pallida : The flowers are pale yellow and the standards are longer.
  • Variegata : The leaves are white-striped lengthways.

There are also known varieties with double flowers.

All parts of the plant are poisonous. The highest concentration is in the rhizomes (root stocks), which also contain tannins. The plant, also known as “false calamus ” or its rhizome, also called “Gilgen root”, was previously used for various medicinal purposes.

literature

Web links

Commons : Swamp iris ( Iris pseudacorus )  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp.  141 .
  2. ↑ Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Iris pseudacorus. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  3. ↑ Invasive Plant Atlas of New England . (PDF; 211 kB)
  4. ↑ Eckehart J. Jäger, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd K. Müller (Eds.): Rothmaler Exkursionsflora von Deutschland Volume 5 Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants. Spectrum Academic Publishing House, Berlin Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8 .
  5. ↑ Silke Grunwald: Swamp Iris in the Ecological Teaching Garden PH Karlsruhe . (PDF; 146 kB)