Barbary-nut

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Barbary-nut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gynandriris maricoides
• Iris sisyrinchium subsp. fugax
• Iris todaroana
• Iris sisyrinchium var. syrtica
• Iris sisyrinchium var. fugax
• Iris sisyrinchium var. maculata
• Xiphion sisyrinchium
• Iris sisyrinchium var. maricoides
• Sisyrinchium majus
• Gynandriris numidica
• Gynandriris sisyrinchium
• Iris sisyrinchium f. rosea
• Iris sisyrinchium f. violacea
• Iris sisyrinchium var. marmarica
• Iris sisyrinchium var. major
• Iris sisyrinchium f. caerulea
• Iris sisyrinchium f. alba
• Iris sisyrinchium var. purpurea
• Gynandriris littorea
• Evansia syrtica
• Iris libyca
• Iris maricoides
• Iris involuta
• Iris aegyptia
• Helixyra sisyrinchium
• Iris samaritanii
• Iris syrtica
• Iris sisyrinchium
• Iris zelantea
• Moraea tenoreana
• Moraea sicula

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales, it is classified under the family Iridaceae and is further identified by the genus Moraea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the Mediterranean region of Southwestern Europe. It can be found growing across several key island territories, including the Baleares, Corse, and Sardegna. In addition to these islands, its presence extends to the mainland areas of Portugal and Spain. These locations represent the primary habitats where the species is naturally situated. Consequently, its range is defined by these distinct coastal and island environments in the southwestern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Moraea sisyrinchium is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse and often harsh landscapes, spanning an elevational range from 800 m to 2200 m AMSL. This species is highly adaptable to varied terrain, commonly inhabiting desert environments, rolling hills, sandy substrates, and steppe ecosystems. Such habitats suggest a resilience to fluctuating moisture levels and varying soil compositions, allowing the plant to establish itself within both arid and semi-arid niches across its altitudinal gradient.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

desert, hills, sand, steppe

Life history

The life history of Moraea sisyrinchium is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a geophyte, it relies on specialized underground storage organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, ensuring its long-term presence in its habitat. This survival strategy is further supported by its classification as a cryptophyte, where the vital regenerative parts of the plant remain protected below the soil surface during dormant periods.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Moraea sisyrinchium is characterized by its growth as a non-woody herb, presenting a graminoid or forb-like structure. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, though it can exist across a spectrum ranging from aquatic to semiaquatic environments. As a self-supporting species, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Moraea sisyrinchium is characterized by its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy where carbon fixation occurs directly through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. Unlike plants utilizing C4 or CAM pathways, this species fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide into a three-carbon molecule, typically 3-phosphoglycerate, during the initial carboxylation step catalyzed by the enzyme RuBisCO. This physiological framework dictates its resource management, particularly its dependence on efficient water use and transpiration rates to maintain stomatal conductance for CO2 uptake. Consequently, its metabolic efficiency and growth rates are closely tied to environmental conditions such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture availability, which influence the rate of photorespiration and the overall carbon assimilation capacity of the plant.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Moraea sisyrinchium is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and distinct seed characteristics. The flowering period typically begins in March and concludes in April, although the timing can be highly variable throughout the year. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds with a relatively small mass; the average seed mass is approximately 0.0022666665 g. The individual seed weight fluctuates within a narrow range, with a minimum recorded mass of 0.00189 g and a maximum mass reaching 0.00283 g.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Seed mass max:

0.00283 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0022666665 g

Seed mass min:

0.00189 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Moraea sisyrinchium 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 flower, stem.

Flower

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Stem

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Chemicals

Moraea sisyrinchium has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoflavones, Phytosterols.

Isoflavones

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Phytosterols

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Conditions

Moraea sisyrinchium has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include glioblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma.

Glioblastoma

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie