Iris coeruleoviridis T. Y. Zuo, H. T. Li & Z. Z. Zhang sp. nov.

Fig. 8

Diagnosis.

This new species is morphologically similar to I. anguifuga, but differs by its broader leaves [7–10 (– 12) mm vs. 5–7 mm], smaller flowers in diameter (6–6.5 cm vs. ca. 10 cm).

Type.

China • Shaanxi Province, Luonan County, Luoyuan Town, near the headwaters of the Luo River in the Caolianling area; 1566 m; 34°15.0736'N, 109°49.4950'E; 16 June 2025 (fl); Z. Z. Zhang ZZZ-CLL-001 (holotype: NAS!, isotypes: SG!, CSH!).

Description.

Perennial herb, base surrounded by sheaths and fibers. Rhizome thick, irregularly lumpy. Leaves linear, 45–65 cm × 7–10 (– 12) mm, with 3–6 veins. Flowering stem 40–55 cm tall, with 2–3 cauline leaves borne at the base and 1 bract-like leaf inserted near the middle. Bracts 2, narrowly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 6–9.5 cm long, apex acuminate, 1 - flowered. Flowers faintly fragrant, 6–6.5 cm in diam.; pedicel 2–3 cm long; perianth tube ca. 0.5 cm long; sepals spreading, oblanceolate, ca. 3.5 cm × 7–10 mm, limb apex bluish purple, claw yellowish green; petals erect, oblanceolate, 2.8–3.1 cm × 5–7 mm, upper part bluish purple, lower part brown, densely spotted; stamens 2.2–2.4 cm long; anthers bright yellow, 1.4–1.6 cm long, filaments flattened; style branches arched, margins membranous, ca. 3 cm × 5 mm, apex lobes triangular, ca. 5 × 3 mm; stigmatic lip bilobed; ovary trigonous, ca. 3.6 cm long, ca. 4 mm in diam., with a neck 2.3–3.5 cm long. Capsule trigonous-fusiform, 6.5–8 × ca. 1.5 cm, apex with a long beak ca. 2.7 cm long, fruiting pedicel 2.5–3.5 cm long. Seeds subglobose, without appendages, 4–5 mm in diam; testa wrinkled. Flowering June – July, fruiting August – September.

Distribution and ecology.

This new species is currently known only from the Caolianling area in the western Qinling Mountains, where it grows in forest understory and along forest margins. Its full distribution range requires further investigation (Fig. 6).

Etymology.

Since this new species possesses a style that is green with a bluish tinge at the apex, the specific epithet “ coeruleoviridis ” was chosen.

Preliminary conservation status.

Based on the preliminary assessment using the IUCN (2024) Red List Categories and Criteria, I. coeruleoviridis is assigned a threat category of Data Deficient (DD). The species is currently known only from the Caolianling area in the western Qinling Mountains. The available information is insufficient to fully assess its extinction risk (e. g., due to possibly undiscovered populations or a lack of data on population dynamics and threat factors), and it is therefore classified as Data Deficient.