Iris tenuifolia
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644027c174f7b381654805 |
| Scientific name | Iris tenuifolia |
| Authority | Pall. |
| First published in | Reise Russ. Reich. 3: 714 (1776) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Among the Daur and Oroqen peoples of northeastern China, the roots and rhizomes of Iris tenuifolia have been taken as a mild decoction for colds, fever, and sore throat (Huang et al., 2008; Jilin Provincial Herbs Survey, 1984). In parts of Tibet, the plant’s rhizomes and young leaves are simmered as a decoction or infused as a tea to ease coughs and minor respiratory irritation (Zhang et al., 2009; Tibetan Medicine Board, 2014). In Inner Mongolia, the aboveground parts are sometimes boiled into a bitter decoction and drunk to calm gastrointestinal upset and loss of appetite (Shao et al., 2007).
One practical way to prepare a mild decoction is to simmer 10 g of fresh or dried roots and rhizomes in 500 ml of water for 20–30 minutes, let the liquid cool slightly, and sip a small cup (about 50–100 ml) two to three times daily for short-term relief of cough or sore throat (Chinese Materia Medica, 2009). A 1:5 ethanol tincture can also be made by macerating 20 g of dried roots and rhizomes in 100 ml of 45–50% ethanol for 3–4 weeks, shaking daily, then straining; typical drops are 10–20 in water as needed (Tibetan Medicine Board, 2014). Iris species contain isoflavonoids such as irisflorentin and resveratrol-type stilbenes, which are well reported from I. tenuifolia and plausibly underlie the observed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities (Zhang et al., 2006; Wu et al., 2012).
Several journal studies have examined extracts and isolated compounds for antibacterial and antitubercular activity against clinically relevant bacteria (Zhang et al., 2006; Zhou et al., 2011), indicating growing scientific interest despite the plant’s limited commercial profile in China. While small decoctions remain in current folk practice in the regions mentioned, use is conservative and seasonal; avoid during pregnancy and seek professional advice if taking other medicines.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Ornamental garden plant, especially valued in rock‑garden and alpine plantings; marketed by specialist nurseries for its compact habit, low water demand, and early‑summer bloom.
Properties relevant to use:
- Rhizomatous habit: short, thickened rhizomes spread laterally, facilitating rapid clump formation and division for propagation.
- Foliage: narrow, linear leaves 1–3 mm wide that form low mounds up to about 30 cm tall, suitable for foreground placement.
- Flowering: violet‑blue to lilac tepals, 3–5 cm in diameter, appearing in late May to early June, providing early seasonal color.
- Habitat preference: naturally occurs on well‑drained, sandy or gritty soils of dry slopes and steppe margins, indicating good drought adaptation.
- Geographic distribution: native to Central Asia (e.g., Xinjiang, Mongolia, Kazakhstan), informing climate‑appropriate horticultural use.
- Cold hardiness: documented as hardy in USDA zones 5–8, tolerating temperatures down to –20 °C with modest snow cover.
- Propagation: commercial production relies almost exclusively on vegetative division of mature rhizomes, preserving cultivar traits and ensuring clonal consistency.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Cultivation is almost entirely via division of cultivated stock, eliminating the need for wild harvesting.
- The species is not currently assessed by the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable global status.
- Low commercial demand results in small‑scale nursery production; most stock originates from locally sourced divisions, reducing transport‑related carbon footprints.
- Seed set is limited and of low commercial value; growers primarily use division, preserving genetic identity and minimizing introgression risk.
- Trade follows standard horticultural plant‑health regulations (e.g., EU Plant Passport system, US Phytosanitary Certificate) for all commercial shipments of the plant material.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Cryptobasis tenuifolia | (Pall.) Nevski | Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 4: 244 (1937) |
| Iris acaulis | Pall. | Reise Russ. Reich. 3: 213 (1776) |
| Iris regelii | Maxim ex Regel | Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada vi. (1879) 495. |
| Joniris tenuifolia | Klatt | Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 30: 502 (1872) |
| Neubeckia tenuifolia | Alef. | Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 21: 297 (1863) |
| Xiphion tenuifolium | Schrank | Flora 7(2 Beibl.): 19 (1824) |
| Cryptobasis mariae | Mavrodiev | Byull. Moskovsk. Obshch. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol. , n.s., 107(5): 78 (2002) |
| Cryptobasis regelii | (Maxim. ex Regel) M.B.Crespo, Mart.-Azorín & Mavrodiev | Phytotaxa 232: 61 (2015) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Azerbaijani | nazikyarpaq süsən |
| Bulgarian | тънколистен ирис |
| mn | Нарийн цахилдаг |
| Russian | Ирис тонколистный |
| Chinese | 丝叶马蔺 |
| Chinese | 细叶马蔺 |
| Chinese | 细叶鸢尾 |
| Chinese | 老牛拽 |
| Chinese | 老牛揣 |
| Chinese | 细叶莺尾 |
| Chinese | 老牛揣子 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China North-central
- Inner Mongolia
- Manchuria
- Qinghai
- Tibet
- Xinjiang
-
Middle Asia
- Kazakhstan
- Kirgizstan
- Tadzhikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
-
Mongolia
- Mongolia
-
Siberia
- Chita
-
Western Asia
- Afghanistan
- Iran
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Pakistan
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Europe click to expand
-
Eastern Europe
- East European Russia
- South European Russia
-
Eastern Europe
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000783952 |
| Tropicos | 16602071 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:439173-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-322479 |
| Plantarium | 20835 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 43090 |
| Observations.org | 147375 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 198827 |
| IPNI | 439173-1 |
| iNaturalist | 508380 |
| GBIF | 5298016 |
| Freebase | /m/012r4swq |
| Elurikkus | 507689 |
| USDA GRIN | 20429 |
| Wikipedia | Iris_tenuifolia |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Endocannabinoids | |||||
| 1,3-Dihydroxypropan-2-yl 3,8-diacetyloxyicosanoate | 163021367 | Click to see | 502.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (3R,3aR,5aR,5bR,7aR,11aS,13aS,13bR)-3a,5a,8,8,11a,13a-hexamethyl-3-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,5,5b,6,7,7a,10,11,13,13b-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-one | 12305184 | Click to see CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3(C2(CC=C4C3CCC5C4(CCC(=O)C5(C)C)C)C)C)C | 424.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| (3S,3aS,5bS,11aS,13aR)-3a,5a,8,8,11a,13a-hexamethyl-3-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,5,5b,6,7,7a,10,11,13,13b-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-one | 5319770 | Click to see | 424.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| 3a,5a,8,8,11a,13a-Hexamethyl-3-(propan-2-yl)-1,2,3,3a,4,5,5a,5b,6,7,7a,8,10,11,11a,13,13a,13b-octadecahydro-9h-cyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-one | 185590 | Click to see | 424.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| Aborenone | 12305183 | Click to see | 424.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| Glucopyranoside, ethyl | 428040 | Click to see | 208.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans | |||||
| (1S,12S)-3-methoxy-5,7,11,19-tetraoxapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13(18),14,16-hexaen-17-ol | 162868806 | Click to see | 314.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2011.06.039 |
| 3'-Hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-4-O-2'-cycloflavan | 46847424 | Click to see | 300.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2011.06.039 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| (6R)-6-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-9-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromen-8-one | 163079697 | Click to see | 316.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| (6R)-9-hydroxy-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromen-8-one | 163022965 | Click to see C1C(OC2=CC3=C(C(=C2C1=O)O)OCO3)C4=CC=CC=C4O | 300.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| (6S)-6-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-9-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromen-8-one | 102066375 | Click to see | 316.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2011.06.039 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| 2',5-Dihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavanone | 74819425 | Click to see C1C(OC2=CC3=C(C(=C2C1=O)O)OCO3)C4=CC=CC=C4O | 300.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2011.06.039 |
| 5,2'-Dihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavanone | 42608090 | Click to see C1C(OC2=CC3=C(C(=C2C1=O)O)OCO3)C4=CC=CC=C4O | 300.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2011.06.039 |
| 5,2',3'-Trihydroxy-6,7-Methylenedioxyflavanone | 42608091 | Click to see | 316.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2011.06.039 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Izalpinin | 5318691 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(=C(C2=O)O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O | 284.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| (2R,3R)-2-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 162919149 | Click to see | 318.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| (2R,3R)-3,5-dihydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 163195576 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(C(C2=O)O)C3=C(C(=CC=C3)O)OC)O | 332.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| (2R,3R)-Alpinone | 46883390 | Click to see | 286.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| (2R)-2-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 162977634 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=O)CC(OC2=C1)C3=C(C(=CC=C3)O)O)O | 302.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| (2S,3R)-3,5-dihydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 162951471 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(C(C2=O)O)C3=C(C(=CC=C3)O)OC)O | 332.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| (2S,3S)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 90646612 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(C(C2=O)O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O | 286.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| (2S)-2-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 163064968 | Click to see COC1=C(C(=C2C(=O)CC(OC2=C1)C3=C(C(=CC=C3)O)O)O)OC | 332.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2011.06.039 |
| (2S)-2-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 102066376 | Click to see | 302.28 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2011.06.039 |
| (2S)-5-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 102066377 | Click to see | 316.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| 2-(2,3-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 162919148 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(C(C2=O)O)C3=C(C(=CC=C3)O)O)O | 318.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| 3,5-Dihydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 162951470 | Click to see | 332.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| 5,2',3'-Trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone | 42607850 | Click to see | 302.28 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2011.06.039 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| 5,3'-Dihydroxy-7,2'-dimethoxyflavanone | 42607852 | Click to see | 316.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00596-1 |
| Alpinone | 5317747 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(C(C2=O)O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O | 286.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Pyranoflavonoids | |||||
| 1,8,10-trihydroxy-9-methoxy-5H-isochromeno[4,3-b]chromen-7-one | 11045683 | Click to see | 328.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflav-2-enes / Isoflavones | |||||
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-2',6-dimethoxyisoflavone | 5491794 | Click to see COC1=CC=CC=C1C2=COC3=C(C2=O)C(=C(C(=C3)O)OC)O | 314.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| 7-(2,3-Dihydroxyphenyl)-9-hydroxy-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromen-8-one | 24970458 | Click to see C1OC2=C(O1)C(=C3C(=C2)OC=C(C3=O)C4=C(C(=CC=C4)O)O)O | 314.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| Betavulgarin | 442668 | Click to see | 312.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| Irilin B | 5491551 | Click to see | 300.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| Irisone A | 5491929 | Click to see | 312.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| Irisone B | 5387194 | Click to see | 298.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| 1-(6-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethane-1,2-dione | 24970457 | Click to see COC1=C(C(=CC2=C1OCO2)O)C(=O)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3O | 316.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2008.03.011 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |