Iris unguicularis

Iris unguicularis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Iridaceae
Tribe:	Irideae
Genus:	Iris
Species:	I. unguicularis
Binomial name
Iris unguicularis Poir.
Synonyms
Iris stylosa Desf. Iris unguicularis f. lilacina Spreng. ex André Iris unguicularis f. marginata Spreng. ex André Iris unguicularis f. pavonia Spreng. ex André Iris unguicularis f. speciosa Spreng. ex André Iris unguicularis subsp. unguicularis (unknown) Joniris stylosa (Desf.) Klatt Neubeckia stylosa (Desf.) Alef. Siphonostylis unguicularis (Poir.) Wern.Schulze

Iris unguicularis (also commonly known as the Algerian iris) is a rhizomatous flowering plant in the genus Iris, native to Greece, Turkey, Western Syria, and Tunisia. It grows to 30 centimetres (12 in), with grassy evergreen leaves, producing pale lilac or purple flowers with a central band of yellow on the falls. The flowers appear in winter and early spring. They are fragrant, with pronounced perianth tubes up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long. They are extremely susceptible to slugs, especially very small ones.

This plant is widely cultivated in temperate regions, and numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use, including a slightly more tender white form 'Alba', and a dwarf variety I. unguicularis subsp. cretensis. The cultivar 'Mary Barnard' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

In 2013, a chemical analysis study was carried on Iris loczyi and Iris unguicularis as both plants are known as medicinally important. The rhizomes of Iris unguicularis contains 1,3-O-diferuloylsucrose, 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxychromone, irilone, 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone, tectorigenin, kaempferol, 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-3′,8-dimethoxyflavanone, 8-methoxyeriodictyol, hispidulin and mangiferin.

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Wikipedia