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

Fig. 7

Diagnosis.

This new species is morphologically similar to I. farreri, but differs by its shorter bracts (6.4–7 cm vs. 7–14 cm), ovary lacking elongated necks, and beakless fruits.

Type.

China • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Alxa League, Nansi (Guangzong Temple) Tourist Area, on the open grassland in the valley; 2395 m; 38°39.4295'N, 105°50.2786'E; 18 June 2025 (fl); Z. Z. Zhang ZZZ-NS-001 (holotype: NAS!).

Description.

Perennial caespitose herb. Plant base surrounded by fibrous remnants of old brown leaf sheaths. Rhizomes knobbly, woody. Roots tough, unbranched, nearly uniform in diameter throughout. Leaves grey-green, linear, 18–35 cm × 4–6 mm, with 3–5 longitudinal veins. Flowering stems 15–40 cm tall, smooth, bearing a single bract-like leaf near the middle. Bracts 3, herbaceous, green, 6.4–7 × 0.5–1 cm, apex shortly acuminate, 2 - flowered. Flowers violet to purple, 7.5–8 cm in diam.; pedicel 2.3–3 cm long; perianth tube ca. 9 mm long; sepals spreading, pandurate, 4–4.5 × ca. 1 cm, limb reflexed downward, claw white or pale yellow with purple reticulate veins; petals erect, oblanceolate, 4.2–4.5 × ca. 1 cm; stamens ca. 2.8 cm long, anthers dark purple; style branches slightly curved, 4–4.5 × ca. 1 cm, apex lobes narrowly triangular; stigmatic lip bilobed. Ovary trigonous-ovoid, 1.4–2 cm long. Capsule trigonous-ovoid, 3.5–4.5 (– 5.5) × 1.2–2 cm, pericarp membranous, prominently reticulate-veined. Seeds brown, irregularly polyhedral, without appendages; testa wrinkled. Flowering May – June, fruiting July – September.

Distribution and ecology.

I. helanshanensis is distributed in the Helan Mountains and Luo Mountains (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China), where it grows in open grassy slopes or forest edges (Fig. 6).

Etymology.

The type locality is situated in the Helan Mountains, hence the specific epithet “ helanshanensis ” is chosen.

Preliminary conservation status.

Based on the IUCN (2024) Red List Categories and Criteria (Version 3.1, 2012), I. helanshanensis is preliminarily assessed as Vulnerable (VU). This assessment is based on its simultaneous fulfilment of the following 2 criteria: D 1 (total number of mature individuals estimated to be fewer than 1,000) and D 2 (Area of Occupancy is estimated to be less than 20 km 2, coupled with a very limited number of locations). Plausible future threats include habitat degradation and fragmentation resulting from ongoing tourism development, such as trail construction, visitor foot traffic, and associated infrastructure expansion, which may negatively impact the long-term survival of this taxon. It is strongly recommended that systematic field surveys be conducted promptly to verify its distribution range, population dynamics, and specific threats, thereby providing a scientific basis for confirming its final conservation status.

Notes.

The distribution of this species in the Luo Mountains, at the border between Hongsibu District and Tongxin County in Wuzhong City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, is only documented through a single herbarium specimen (BNU 0019183). Since the Luo Mountains has been designated as a national nature reserve, further verification is required to assess the species’ population status within this region.

Other specimens examined.

1. China • Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Wuzhong City, Tongxin County, Luoshan Nature Reserve, on grassy mountain slopes. 1807 m, 26 June 2015 (fr), BNU Expedition LS 2015023, BNU 0019183 3. China • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Alxa League, Alxa East County, Bayan Hot Town, on the way from South Temple to Bayan Sunbu’er, subalpine meadow, 2585 m, 20 June 2021 (fl), Bing Liu, Yalei Feng & Xinxin Zhou 12481, PE 02430836, PE 02430837, PE 02442401.