A new natural hybrid of Iris (Iridaceae) from Chongqing, China

Abstract

A newly discovered natural hybrid, Iris × ampliflora Y.E. Xiao, F.Y. Yu & X.F. Chen (Iridaceae: subgenus Limniris section Lophiris) from Chongqing, China, is described and illustrated. This hybrid is morphologically similar to I. japonica Thunb. and I. wattii Baker, but can be distinguished by its giant leaves and large purple flowers. Phylogenetic trees based on cpDNA data support the separation of I. × ampliflora from other closely related species in the section Lophiris. According to its morphological features, molecular systematic evidence and chromosome data, we speculate that I. × ampliflora [31 chromosomes] likely is a new hybrid between I. japonica [2n = 32] and I. wattii [2n = 30].