Iris subg. Hermodactyloides | |
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Iris reticulata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Iridaceae |
Genus: | Iris |
Subgenus: | Iris subg. Hermodactyloides |
Series | |
See text |
The subgenus Hermodactyloides of Iris includes all reticulate-bulbed bulbous irises. It was formerly named as a genus, Iridodictyum by Rodionenko in 1961.[1][2][3] but it was not widely accepted and most botanists preferred 'Hermodactyloides'.
Édouard Spach named the genus in 1846.[4] The word 'Hermodactyloides' comes from 'Hermes' , a Greek God, and 'daktylos' - finger. The name for the subgenus is very similar to Hermodactylus (the former name for Iris tuberosa), which was originally a separate genus to irises, but in 2001 was re-classified to be within the Hermodactyloides sub-genus.[5]
Most species are native to central Europe and central Asia. They mostly have one or two long leaves and flower in early spring.