Iris kemaonensis Wall. ex D.Don, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts. 1: 372 1839.
(Syn: Iris duthiei Foster; Iris kamaonensis Wall. [Invalid]; Iris kingiana Foster; Iris tigrina Jacquem. ex Baker); .
Kumaon Iris, Kombirei (Manipuri);
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Himalaya to SC. China as per WCSP;
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The two species are very distinct at least in two major features: 1. I. hookeriana: aerial stems distinct longer than 10 cm; perianth tube less than 2 cm long.
2. I. kemaonensis: Aerial stems highly reduced, not longer than 10 cm (longer stemed I. kemaonensis var. caulescens Baker is now considered as synonym of I. hookeriana); perianth tube 5-8 cm long.
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In 1972-73 I had studied nearly 700-800 herbarium specimens in various Indian Herbaria including the three major ones Calcutta, Dehradun and Lucknow and found that more than 90 % of specimens identified as I. kumaonensis actually belonged to I. hookeriana, and that former has much more restricted distribution than I. hookeriana, which is more widely distributed in W. Himalayas. I. kemaonensis is mostly restricted to areas of Uttarakhand and eastwards.
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Iris kemaonensis is a species whose distribution is much confused with related but distinct species Iris hookeriana. The species I. kemaonensis is reported to occur in Valley of Flowers. Although the active flowering season of the species is June-July, the flowering may extend to August also. The members visiting the area may please keep track of it and get some good photographs to identify it clearly:
1. Photograph showing emergence of flowering stem from ground (is almost absent or short in Kemaonensis, a few cm).
2. Side view of flower to show perianth tube (tube like structure below the perianth lobes). it is 6-8 cm long and emerging from spathe bracts in I. kemaonensis, only 1.5-2.5 cm and hidden in I. hookeriana. You may get additional photograph after removing spathe bracts as I have done in I. variegata to show tube clearly.
3. Both species have bearded line on outer perianth lobes (falls).
Some some members get the true picture. Iris kumaonensis:
Iris kumaonensis D.Don ex Royle (Iridaceae) is a common alpine herb blooming in May-June in Western Himalaya. Despite of beautiful flowers it is yet not domesticated in India. I fear it may not be that common as is generally reported. It is distinct from closely related I. hookeriana by flowers borne on almost stemless axis and perianh tube usually longer than 5 cm, as against distinct stem and tube shorter than 2 cm in I. hookeriana.
I remember having visited DD, CAL and LUCK herbaria in 1971-72 and found that more than 95 percent specimens identified as I. kemaonensis actually belonged to I. hookerana. Distribution really needs to be checked. This was my most prized catch of 2013 from above Tungnath in Uttarakhand on June 1, I had worked on Iris kemaonensis Wall. ex D. Don (I. kumaonensis in most earlier Indian Books). and studied its confusion with I. hookeriana in most Indian Floras including Hooker’s Flora of British India. The two species are very distinct at least in two major features:
1. I. hookeriana: aerial stems distinct longer than 10 cm; perianth tube less than 2 cm long.
2. I. kemaonensis: Aerial stems highly reduced, not longer than 10 cm (longer stemed I. kemaonensis var. caulescens Baker is now considered as synonym of I. hookeriana); perianth tube 5-8 cm long.
In 1972-73 I had studied nearly 700-800 herbarium specimens in various Indian Herbaria including the three major ones Calcutta, Dehradun and Lucknow and found that more than 90 % of specimens identified as I. kumaonensis actually belonged to I. hookeriana, and that former has much more restricted distribution than I. hookeriana, which is more widely distributed in W. Himalayas. I. kemaonensis is mostly restricted to areas of Uttarakhand and eastwards.
I am uploading two photographs instead of one, to bring out the feature of a very long Perianth tube. Iris kemaonensis and I.hookeriana are early bloomers in sub alpine and alpine zones. This post will keep me reminding the hunt for I.hookeriana. Yes, a prized catch indeed, great colour patterns.. … i remember you were so happy when we found this.. Superb picture 🙂 Iris kemaonensis (Iridaceae) from Uttarakhand: June 2015_DSR_10 : 4 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (6)
This time when I saw this plant I remembered the advice of Dr G.Singh Sir to note perianth tube to ascertain whether it is Iris kemaonensis or Iris hookeriana.
Pics are attached and suggest it as I.kemaonensis.
Photographed on way to Vasudhara Waterfall near Badrinath.
May be compared with type of I. hookeriana at-
http://apps.kew.org/imageBarcode=K000802318
To the nature lovers adding here two pics of Vasudhara waterfall. Wonderful photographs of the high altitude plant. New to me. Thank you Sir! It is one of the common element in subalpine and alpine zones of Uttarakhand. Yes … It is indeed I. kemoanensis. Very short stem and long perianth tube. Yes appreciate the water fall and learned about this iris’s id points . ID OF THIS GORGEOUS IRIS FROM UTTARKHAND, 3750 METRES ABOVE MSL : 4 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (1) Could the members of this esteemed group help establish the ID this Iris species. Is it Wild Himalayan Iris/Kumaon Iris (Iris Hookeriana)?
Could the group provide info on this species, conservation status, other distinctive, interesting aspects? (The pic was taken while trekking from Gunji to Kuti, Uttarakhand, around 3,750 m. Village Kuti is a last village in Byans valley.) Pl. check
Iris kemaonensis, differing from Iris hookeriana (flower on a stem up to 12 cm long; perianth tube 2-3 cm long) in being almost stemless, perianth tube 5-7 cm long ,
Thank you, …, for establishing ID as I. kemaonensis.
I am attaching 2 more pics of the same specimens for further clarity. Attachments (2)
. Could the members of this esteemed group help establish the ID this Iris species. Is it Wild Himalayan Iris/Kumaon Iris (Iris Hookeriana)?
Could the group provide info on this species, conservation status, other distinctive, interesting aspects? (The pic was taken while trekking from Gunji to Kuti, Uttarakhand, around 3,750 m. Village Kuti is a last village in Byans valley.) Pl. check
Iris kemaonensis, differing from Iris hookeriana (flower on a stem up to 12 cm long; perianth tube 2-3 cm long) in being almost stemless, perianth tube 5-7 cm long,
Thank you, …, for establishing ID as I. kemaonensis.
I am attaching 2 more pics of the same specimens for further clarity. Attachments (2)
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Iris kemaonensis from above Tungnath, Uttarakhand-GS04012022-7: 6 very high res. images.
I was surprised to see that our database has listing of this species, no images under the listing, although I had sharedthe following post on June 1, 2014 under the Title ‘My Flora Picture of the Year: Gurcharan Singh’ This was my most prized catch of 2013 from above Tungnath in Uttarakhand on June 1, I had worked on Iris kemaonensis Wall. ex D. Don (I. kumaonensis in most earlier Indian Books). and studied its confusion with I. hookeriana in most Indian Floras including Hooker’s Flora of British India. The two species are very distinct at least in two major features:
1. I. hookeriana: aerial stems distinct longer than 10 cm; perianth tube less than 2 cm long.
2. I. kemaonensis: Aerial stems highly reduced, not longer than 10 cm (longer stemed I. kemaonensis var. caulescens Baker is now considered as synonym of I. hookeriana); perianth tube 5-8 cm long.
In 1972-73 I had studied nearly 700-800 herbarium specimens in various Indian Herbaria including the three major ones Calcutta, Dehradun and Lucknow and found that more than 90 % of specimens identified as I. kumaonensis actually belonged to I. hookeriana, and that former has much more restricted distribution than I. hookeriana, which is more widely distributed in W. Himalayas. I. kemaonensis is mostly restricted to areas of Uttarakhand and eastwards.
I am uploading two photographs instead of one, to bring out the feature of a very long Perianth tube.
Before that I had posted this message on June 22, 2012 to members who were about to go on a trip to Valley of Flowers
Iris kemaonensis is a species whose distribution is much confused with related but distinct species Iris hookeriana. The species I. kemaonensis is reported to occur in Valley of Flowers. Although the active flowering season of the species is June-July, the flowering may extend to August also. The members visiting the area may please keep track of it and get some good photographs to identify it clearly:
1. Photograph showing emergence of flowering stem from ground (is almost absent or short in Kemaonensis, a few cm).
2. Side view of flower to show perianth tube (tube like structure below the perianth lobes). it is 6-8 cm long and emerging from spathe bracts in I. kemaonensis, only 1.5-2.5 cm and hidden in I. hookeriana. You may get additional photograph after removing spathe bracts as I have done in I. variegata to show tube clearly.
3. Both species have bearded line on outer perianth lobes (falls).
Some some members get the true picture.
I am now sharing some high resolution pictures of I. kemaonensis from above Tungnath, taken on 1-6-2013
. References:
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