The Siberian Iris colonizes damp, well-drained meadows which are only mown in late summer and are not fertilized. Even though Iris sibirica is a protected species, it continues to be threatened. In this and the previous century, the loss of wild meadows to agriculture has eliminated the previously oft-seen "Iris meadows" of the Marchfeld area.
Description
This stately iris may grow from 30 to 80cm high; its dark violet flowers tower over the green leaves. Slender, grass-like leaves spring from the creeping stem on the ground. The leaves are glaucous green and only around 2-6mm (at most 10mm) wide, making it difficult to spot the plant in a meadow when not in bloom. The round stem branches up to produce dark violet flowers, normally three, on stubby stalks. The outer petals are long-stalked and oval and droop outwards. The narrow inner petals are upright and longer than the petal-like style. Iris flowers are divided into three parts. A tubular-shaped single unit is formed by one outer petal together with stamen and the petal-like style. When looking for nectar buried in the corolla, or inner floral leaves, a pollinating insect has to make its way past both style and stamen. After pollination, large cylindrical fruit capsules are formed; they are blunt and triangular. The dark brown seeds are flattened discs.
Distribution
The Siberian Iris is found in Europe as far north as Denmark and southern Scandinavia as well as in the temperate zones of Asia, including Japan. Local to rare in all Austrian provinces; occurs up to montane levels. Typical sites are swamp and marsh meadows, ditches and flood channels. In the Donau-Auen National Park the species may be found sporadically in the wetlands meadows along the northeast Danube banks.
Endangerment and Conservation Status
The Siberian Iris is endangered and in some places, critically endangered. All types of the Iris genus are fully protected in Lower Austria and partly protected in Vienna.
Ecological Characteristics
The Siberian Iris grows in stands in spring on flooded meadows. Impressive in bloom, these stands are the "face" of the meadows in May and June. Traditionally, these meadows were used by farmers to grow bedding for stalls and were only mown in late summer, when the ground had dried and the Siberian Iris had completed its growing season. Nowadays, both fertilization and frequent mowing result in the decimation of this sensitive flower. In the past, flooded meadows were frequently used as agricultural land, only to have the yield ruined by subsequent flooding. And on the other hand, too much drainage means too little moisture, and the iris is unable to flower. This has been the case for example in the "Langen Lüsse" area north of the confluence of the March and the Danube.
Special Characteristics
Outside the Donau-Auen National Park, conservation organisations such as the Distelverein (an association named after the thistle) are active in the preservation of remaining stands along the March River.