Morphological Characterizations of Iris songarica Schrenk Using Multivariate Analysis

Iris songarica Schrenk, native to the arid and semiarid regions of Central and Southwest Asia, is a xerophytic species valued for its environmental adaptability and ornamental potential. This study assessed the morphological variation of 100 wild I. songarica accessions from the Palang‐Darreh region, Qom province, Iran using multivariate statistical approaches to support conservation and breeding efforts. Descriptive statistics showed a coefficient of variation ranging from 9.92% for style arm length to 77.10% for crest color. Correlation matrix analysis (CMA) revealed a strong positive association between flower diameter and flower surface ( r = 0.85, p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis (MRA) identified standard length and flower surface as the most influential traits shaping floral morphology. Standard length had strong effects on spathe length ( β = 0.44, p ≤ 0.00) and fall length ( β = 0.37, p ≤ 0.00), while flower surface significantly affected flower diameter ( β = 1.96, p ≤ 0.00) and fall length ( β = 0.30, p ≤ 0.00). Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted seven components with eigenvalues > 1.0; the first three explained 28.23%, 8.55%, and 6.14% of the total variance. This study revealed high morphological diversity and distinct phenotypic clusters in I. songarica , shaped by ecological pressures and potential genetic differentiation.