Description
A new and recently described species of the reticulata section from the Zagros Mountains of Western Iran. This accession (EGO.IQ129, Iraq, Kurdistan, Goras Mountains, Rawanduz to Kahlan, 36.42 N, 44. 27 E, alt. 1400m.) entered cultivation originally (and was thus distributed) as Iris zagrica, but it has now been suggested that the differences between this species and three other closely related species, are sufficiently significant that the EGO collection represents a new species. In most characters the four species overlap considerably with each having some common characters in a mosaic of shared features. Their sizes, used as a diagnostic feature, also overlap. Please note however that Iris zagrica is still a valid species, it is just the accession EGO.IQ.129 that has been elevated to the rank of a new species.
Iris zetterlundii is separated from the related avromanica, manvanica and zagrica by its size and the colour of its flowers. It has outer segments, which are light blue with a dark midrib and base, its deep blue style branches with a white edge, widely triangular style lobes and its dark green leaves (rather than the glaucous leaves of I. zagrica).
Iris zagrica is notable for having a very long flower stalk, in contrast it has almost no flower tube, a feature shared with the new species. If seed is set on I. zagrica then uniquely, the seed pods are raised well above the ground on the flower stalk; no mention is made of this in the description of Iris zetterlundii.
A gorgeous little plant, not at all difficult in the alpine house, in a well-drained, loam based compost, drier in summer but not baked and with due regard also to the cold requirement of these species in winter.
First introduced to our lists in 2011 under the then correct name of Iris zagrica EGO.IQ129.
