Kasatik or iris (Iris) is a genus of perennial rhizomatous herbs from the family of iris or iris (Iridaceae), widespread on all continents. They are used as ornamental crops, as raw materials for the perfumery and food industries.
- Family: iris.
- Origin: Mediterranean.
- Rhizome: superficial, thick, branching.
- Stem: One or more erect peduncles.
- Leaves: flat, xiphoid, fleshy.
- Fruit: three-celled capsule.
- Reproductive ability: propagated by division of rhizomes, cuttings, less often by seeds.
- Illumination: photophilous, some species are shade-tolerant.
- Watering: depending on the species, there are moisture-loving and drought-resistant forms.
- Content temperature: there are heat-loving and extremely winter-hardy species.
- Flowering time: May – June.
Iris plants and photos of iris in a flower bed
Irises, or irises, are herbaceous rhizomatous perennials with thin, flat, wax-coated, xiphoid leaves, collected up to 9 pcs. in basal fan-shaped bundles. Stems – annual peduncles, erect, often branched in the upper part, from 20 to 150 cm high, depending on the species. At their ends, large, from 7 to 15 cm, single or collected in few-flowered inflorescences, variously colored flowers bloom.
As you can see in the photo, irises (irises) are distinguished by the original shape of a flower that looks like an orchid.
It has no petals and sepals, there is only a tubular perianth, divided into six recurved lobes. Three inner lobes fused at the bottom form a tube, three outer lobes turn slightly downward and are usually painted in a different tone. One or several peduncles are formed on the plant, they can have from one to 7-9 flowers. The life time of each individual iris flower does not exceed five days, at the same time two or three buds bloom in the inflorescence. Many species have a strong aroma.
The rhizomes of the plant are superficial, rapidly growing, fleshy, with filiform or cord-like fibrous roots extending from them. Rhizomes consist of separate links, each of which is a one-year growth, contain a supply of nutrients necessary for the development of leaves, peduncles, buds, and lateral replacement buds. The rhizomes contain valuable iris oil, some species with a particularly high content are used as raw materials for the food and perfume industries.
Their life span reaches 10, and in some species even 13 years, while the roots usually die off annually.
The botanical name of the iris, iris, is of ancient origin, given to the flower in honor of the ancient Greek goddess Irida, and is translated from Greek as “rainbow”. It is believed that for the first time Hippocrates called the culture so. In Russia, the name “iris” appeared only in the second half of the 19th century. Prior to this, the popular name of the plant, “Kasatik”, obviously associated with the shape of leaves resembling a scythe, was common, and until now, it is under this name that the culture is known to most domestic flower growers.
Types of bearded irises
There are over 270 species of iris, of which about 58 live in Russia. The genus has a rather complex botanical classification, but in floriculture it is usually divided into two groups: bearded irises, which have numerous, often contrastingly colored, shaggy hairs on the perianth petals, and beardless varieties that do not have such hairs.
Below is information about the most common irises in culture, photos of some popular garden forms and varieties.
Bearded species include:
Iris (iris) Germanic (Ir. germanica) – is considered a typical representative of the genus, has xiphoid leaves, tall, up to 90 cm, peduncles and large dark purple or light blue flowers with a purple-red tint.
This plant, which is quite rare in nature, has become the ancestor of numerous garden hybrids obtained by crossing it with other varieties of bearded irises. Previously, all hybrid varieties were incorrectly called German irises, however, in accordance with the modern classification, they are usually referred to as a separate species called “hybrid killer whale”.
Dwarf iris (Ir. Pumila) – a miniature plant up to 15 cm high, with broad or narrow linear bluish leaves and large, up to 7 cm in diameter, variously colored flowers.
Blooms in early May, in nature lives in the steppe and semi-desert regions of Central and Southern Europe. It has been grown in culture since 1588, easily forms hybrids, is the ancestor of the group of dwarf bearded irises.
Pale iris (Ir. Pallida) – an alpine species with high, up to 80 cm, peduncles, xiphoid, covered with a wax coating, bluish leaves and large fragrant pale blue flowers.
The fragrant rhizomes are known under the name “violet root”, because of them in the southern regions of Europe the plant is grown on an industrial scale. Widely used in hybridization, one of the ancestors of the group of tall bearded irises.
Iris (iris) hybrid or garden (Ir. x hybrida hort) – most often found in gardens and flower beds. The hybrid iris combines hundreds of cultivars, which breeders from all over the world have worked on, from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the present day.
In height, tall, medium-sized and undersized, or dwarf iris, are distinguished by color:
Single color;
Bicolor;
Two-tone (different shades of the same color);
Bordered;
iridescent;
Amena (white at the top);
Variegata (yellow above, red-brown in the lower lobes).
Types of beardless killer whales
From the group of beardless species in culture are used:
Siberian iris (Ir. Sibirica) is an exceptionally winter-hardy variety, naturally distributed over vast territories from northern Italy, Turkey to the southern regions of the Komi Republic and the Arkhangelsk region of Russia.
It is distinguished by narrow-linear light green leaves that do not fade until frost, and violet-blue or blue flowers with a diameter of 4-7 cm. In nature, it grows up to 70-100 cm. Hybrids created on the basis of the species are grown in gardens, which are valued for attractive flowers, exceptional hardiness, as well as attractive foliage that remains decorative throughout the season.
Among the numerous cultivars there are plants 60-120 cm high and dwarf specimens, the color can be blue, yellow, purple, brown, orange. Among the shortcomings of the species, we note the complete absence of aroma.
Iris marsh or false air (Ir. pseudacorus) , also called yellow iris – tall, up to 1 m, a plant with golden yellow flowers that bloom in May-June.
There are varieties with double flowers, painted in both yellow and pink tones.
Unlike other irises, this species prefers moist soils and is used in culture to decorate ponds. It grows rapidly, successfully winters in the middle lane without shelter.