roof iris

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• roof iris
• shenan
• wall iris

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Iris tectorum f. alba
• Evansia tectorum
• Tectiris tectorum
• Iris tectorum var. aurescens
• Iris tectorum var. alba
• Iris tomiolopha
• Iris rosthornii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Iris tectorum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is further classified under the order Asparagales. Finally, it is situated in the family Iridaceae and the genus Iris.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In Europe, its presence is noted within the country of Italy located in the southeastern portion of the continent. Its range extends significantly into China, where it can be found in the South-Central areas. Additionally, the species inhabits the northern reaches of the country, specifically in North-Central China and the Qinghai province. Finally, the plant is also documented as growing on the island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Iris tectorum is characterized by a highly specialized niche defined by a precise altitudinal distribution. This species is strictly confined to a specific elevational range, occurring exclusively at an altitude of 1780 m AMSL. This narrow ecological band suggests that the plant is adapted to very particular environmental variables, such as temperature gradients, atmospheric pressure, and moisture availability, that exist only at this specific height above mean sea level. Such a specialized elevational profile indicates that the species occupies a precise montane zone, likely requiring stable climatic conditions found within this unique vertical stratum to thrive.

Elevational range max:

1780 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Iris tectorum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a member of the cryptophyte group, its vital organs are protected beneath the soil surface during unfavorable conditions. Specifically, its life form is classified as a geophyte, meaning it relies on specialized underground storage organs to survive dormancy and sustain regrowth.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Iris tectorum is characterized by a growth form classified as a herb and a forb, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative body. It functions as an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite, and maintains a terrestrial habit rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. Furthermore, the plant is a self-supporting species, lacking any climbing tendencies such as liana or vine habits, and instead relies on its own structural integrity to remain upright.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Iris tectorum involves the development of specialized fruit structures that house its seeds. The resulting fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, with an average fruit length of 5.25 cm. These fruits vary in size depending on environmental factors and developmental maturity, ranging from a minimum length of 4.5 cm to a maximum length of 6 cm. Within these protective capsules, the seeds are produced with a mean mass of 1.58 g, ensuring the successful dispersal and eventual germination of the next generation of this medicinal species.

Fruit length max:

6 cm

Fruit length mean:

5.25 cm

Fruit length min:

4.5 cm

Seed mass mean:

1.58 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Iris tectorum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, rhizome.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Rhizome

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Chemicals

Iris tectorum has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tectoridin, Tectorigenin, Iristectorigenin A, Irigenin, Iristectorigenin B.

Tectoridin

1. Inflammopharmacology
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
3. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems
4. Medicine
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Tectorigenin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems
3. Medicine
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Iristectorigenin A

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Irigenin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems

Iristectorigenin B

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
2. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems

Iristectorin A

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Iristectorin B

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

6-Hydroxygenistein

1. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems

Irone

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Rhamnazin

1. Medicine

Activities

Iris tectorum has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Histidine-Kinase-Inhibitor.

Cytotoxic

1. Methods (San Diego, Calif.)

Histidine-Kinase-Inhibitor

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Iris tectorum has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, cardiovascular diseases, digestive system diseases, dyspepsia, hepatic cirrhosis.

Cancer

1. Methods (San Diego, Calif.)
2. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems

Digestive system diseases

1. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems

Dyspepsia

1. Medicine

Hepatic cirrhosis

1. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems

Hepatitis b virus

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Metabolic syndrome

1. Inflammopharmacology

Tonsillitis

1. Medicine

Urogenital diseases

1. Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems

Preparations

Iris tectorum has 7 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include "She-gan", CS, Iris tectorum extract, extracts, leaves.

"she-gan"

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Cs

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Iris tectorum extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Extracts

1. Methods (San Diego, Calif.)

Leaves

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Raw material powder

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica