Iris (Iridodictyum)
kopetdaghense
Note: The name kopetdaghensis or kopetdagenense is
already used for a Juno Iris. Russian botanists treat Retics
and Junos as genus' separate from that of
Irises. This allows species names to be
reused, just as happens for unrelated plants
ie. Iris danfordiae and Crocus danfordiae. In the West there is strong support amongst
botanists for all of these plants to be considered Irises (no, not the
Crocus). In recent years Kew has been doing work to genetically fingerprint
Irises. Apparently they have found
supporting evidence for indeed calling all of these Irises. At some point in the future, details of this
work will be published. At that time a
new name for this species will need to be picked.
Having
not yet seen this Retic in bloom, I can not say
whether I consider the plant described here to truly be a new species or
not. The reason I mention this, is
because I know for a fact, that the species Iris reticulata is very variable. I am sketpticle
that the features described here are enough to separate it out as a new
species. However as Dr. Karbanov suggests, he feels other distinguishing features
will come to light over time. The one
thing in particular in this plant's favour is that is
occurs on the eastern most fringe of Reticulata's
habitat.
Russian
Academy of Sciences
Botanical
Journal Vol. 83 N 6, June 1998
D.
Kurbanov: New species of the genus Iridodictyum (Iridaceae) from
Turkmenistan
Summary
New
species Iridodictyum kopetdaghense from Turkmenistan is
described.
When
collecting a herbarium in the territory between Central and Western Kopetdag in spring 1997, a new very interesting plant from
the family Iridaceae was found. It was identified as
a new species. Its description in Latin
is given.
Type:
"Turkmenistan, Western Kopetdag, 10 km to the south
from the village Garaul, near melting snow, on loam
slopes, 2000 m altitude, 6 IV 1997, flowers, fruits, D. Kurbanov,
N. Cherepova, V. Cherepov"
(LE).
Relationships:
The species is related to I. reticulatum (Bieb.) Rodionenko, but differ from it by a number of characters:
narrow leaves without four clear seen borders, shorter fruits (its length only
twice (not more) longer than width, when in I. reticulatum fruit length two-four
times longer than width). Moreover,
leaves of the new species in a period of flowering are of smaller sizes than
that in I.reticulatum,
but in post floral period they grow faster up to 40-48 cm (but not 7-12).
Distribution:
Turkmenistan, Western Kopetdag.
We
have an idea, that investigating the new species introduced new distinguishing
characters will be found.
The
author is very grateful to prof. G.I.
Rodionenko for identification of the new species.
Institute
of Botany
Central
Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences
Turkmenistan
A New Species Of The Genus Iridodictyum (Iridaceae) From Turkmenistan
by
D. Kurbanov
èRussian text
lridodictyum kopetdaghense
èRussian text
In
the process of collecting herbarium specimens between central & western Kopetdaghen in spring 1997 we found a very interesting
species from family Iridaceae which we considering as
new type. Below is a description:
èRussian text
Iridodictyum kopetdaghense Kurbanov sp. nov. -- Herba perennis bulbosa. Bulbus oblongus 2.0-2.5 cm in diam., tunica exteriore minute reticulata, fructificatione atrofusca. Folia vaginata 2-3, sub anthesi 12-15 cm longa, laminis anguste linearibus non quadrangulatis; apicibus hand corneis. Pedunculus sub anthesi ad 1.5-2.0 cm altus, post
anthesin tantum multo elongatus, ad 7-8 cm longus. Perigonii tubus 3.5-4.0 cm longus, atro-violaceus, lobis externis limbo macula intense
aurea "ocel1o" medio notato. Capsula cylindrica, manifeste costata, subduplo longiori, quam lata. Semina oblongo-ovalia, atro-grisea, 3.5
mm lata, 5 mm longa, arillo obsoleto. Partes hypogaeae juventute squamis reticulato-fibrosis vestitae, fructificatione exeunte squamae vetustae bulbillis accrescentibus diruptae.
Iridodictyum kopetdaghense Kurbanov new species -- Perennial herb with a bulb.
The bulb is oblong 2.0-2.5 cm in diameter. The exterior tunic is finely netted. Leaves coming out from vagina 2-3. By bloom time they are 12-15 cm long. The narrow lined leaves are non
quadrangular. The tops not pointed. The bloom is not over 1.5-2 cm when it first
opens. By the time blooming finishes it
becomes up to 7-8 cm long. Perinth tube 3.5-4 cm long.
Dark-violet colour, with a golden fall ridge
stripe. The seed pod is cylindric, with a length twice its width. Seeds are oblong oval, dark grey, 3.5 mm wide by 5 mm long without any aril. At the end of the growing season the young
bulbs which formed at the base of each leaf have grown up into the space
occupied by the old bulb and are covered by their own reticulated coat as well
as collectively by the netting of the parent bulb.
èRussian text
Typus: "Turcomania, Kopetdagh
Occidentalis, 10 km ad meridiem
a pago Garaul, ad nives deliquescentes, in declivibus argillosis, inter Junipereta collucata 200 m s. m.,
6 IV 1997, fl., fr., D. Kurbanov,
N. Czerepova, V. Czerepov"
(LE).
Type:
Turkmenistan, west Kopetdag, 10km south from Garaul, near melting snow, on loam slopes, 2000 m altitude,
6 IV 1997, flowers, fruits, D. Kurbanov, N. Cherepova, V. Cherepov" (LE).
èRussian text
Affinitas. Species I. reticulato (Bieb.) Rodionenko affinis, sed foliis anguste
linearibus haud quadrangulatis, sub anthesi minoribus, post anthesin ad 40-48
cm longis (nec 7-12 cm longis), capsulis brevioribus, subduplo (nec 2-4 plo) longioribus
quam latis differt.
Relationship:
The species is related to I. reticulatum (Bieb.) Rodionenko, but differ from it by a number of characters:
narrow leaves without four clear seen borders, shorter fruits (its length only
twice (not more) longer than width, when in I. reticulatum fruit length two-four
times longer than width). Moreover,
leaves of the new species in a period of flowering are of smaller sizes than
that in I.reticulatum,
but in post floral period they grow faster up to 40-48 cm (but not 7-12).
èRussian text
Distributio. Turcomania, Kopetdagh
Occidentalis.
Distribution:
Turkmenistan, Western Kopetdag.
èRussian text
The
author is very grateful to prof. G.I.
Rodionenko for identification of the new species.
When
I figure out how to provide users with a True Type font simultaneously for both
Macintosh OS and Microsoft Operating Systems I will include the original
Russian text. The format above is
intended to be: Russian; Latin; English
Alan
McMurtrie