The iris family (Iridaceae) in the flora of eastern Indochina

• Main Authors: L. V. Averyanov, E. V. Boltenkov, T. V. Maisak, Khang Sinh Nguyen, Hiep Tien Nguyen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Altay State University 2016-03-01
• Series: Turczaninowia
• Online Access: http://journal.asu.ru/index.php/tur/article/view/1207

<p><em>Iris </em>family in the countries of eastern part of Indochina Peninsula, such as Cambodia, Laos and Viet­nam includes lone native genus – <em>Iris </em>L. with two aboriginal species – <em>I. japonica </em>Thunb. and <em>I. tectorum </em>Maxim. <em>Iris japonica </em>is often cultivated as an outdoor ornamental plant in mountainous regions in the northern Vietnam, where it occasionally naturalizes. Herbarium specimens of <em>I. japonica</em>, collected in central Laos near Nape town, probably represent southernmost locality of the <em>Iris </em>genus in Eurasia. <em>Iris tectorum </em>was discovered in native, primary plant communities of karstic highly eroded limestone in Cao Bang province (Bao Lac district) of the northern Vietnam. This species is recorded as new for the flora of the Indochina Peninsula. The report of <em>I. collettii </em>Hook. f. on the territory of peninsular flora does not yet confirmed by herbaria and remains doubtful. Data on taxonomy, authentic specimens, distribution, habitats, phenology, conservation status and biology are provided for all <em>Iris </em>species. The identification key for <em>Iris </em>species is compiled, as well as dotted distribution maps on the territory of countries of eastern Indochina. Other representatives of the family from such genera as <em>Belamcanda </em>Adans. (<em>B. chinensis </em>(L.) Redouté), <em>Crocosmia </em>Planch. (<em>C. × crocosmiiflora </em>(G. Nicholson) N. E. Br.)<em>, Eleutherine </em>Herb. (<em>E. bulbosa </em>(Mill.) Urb.), <em>Freesia </em>Klatt (<em>F. refracta </em>(Jacq.) Klatt.), <em>Gladiolus </em>L. (numerous horticultural forms) и <em>Trimezia </em>Salisb. ex Herb. (<em>T. martinicensis </em>(Jacq.) Herb.) reported from Indochina are introduced cultivated ornamental plants capable to occasional naturaliza­tion as an adventive element of the Indochinese flora.</p>