Nomenclatural history of Iris ruthenica (Iridaceae) and typification of the name

Abstract

Iris ruthenica is one of the most common species of irises, the nomenclatural history of which is related with materials of the first explorations of Siberia. The typification of this name is discussed. The location and the date of plant gathering, as well as the context of the watercolour drawing, the published uncoloured engraving of which represents a part of the original I. ruthenica material, have been reliably established based on the manuscripts deposited at the St. Petersburg Branch of the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The illustration from Gmelin’s Flora Sibirica is designated as the respective lectotype of the name I. ruthenica.