A New Infraspecific Taxon of Iris laevigata (Iridaceae) in Northeast China

Ling Wang; Lei Su; Li-Juan Fan; Fang-Jian Shang; Heng-Li Chen

Ling Wang Northeast Forestry University
Lei Su Northeast Forestry University
Li-Juan Fan Northeast Forestry University
Fang-Jian Shang Northeast Forestry University
Heng-Li Chen Northeast Forestry University

Keywords: China, Heilongjiang, Iridaceae, IUCN Red List

Abstract

A new variety of Iris laevigata Fisch. (Iridaceae) is described from Jilin Province in northeastern China. The new variety I. laevigata var. alba Ling Wang, L. Su & F. J. Shang differs from the typical variety of the species by tepals that are mostly white (vs. dark blue). Further, the color of the anthers is white with a blue tinge in the new variety (vs. entirely blue in the autonymic variety). The diameter of the flower in I. laevigata var. alba is much greater, ca. 12–14 cm (vs. usually 9–10 cm in I. laevigata var. laevigata).