Iris (plant)

See text.

Description

There are many species of Iris, widely distributed throughout the north temperate zone.

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Their habitats are very varied and range from cold regions into the grassy slopes, meadowlands, stream banks and deserts of Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, Asia and southern North America. Elevation is of not much importance.

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These are perennial herbs growing from creeping rhizomes (rhizomatous irises), or, in drier climates, from bulbs (bulbous irises). They have long, erect, flowering stems. These may be simple or branched, solid or hollow. These stalks may be flattened or have a circular transverse section. There are 3 - 10 basal, sword-shaped leaves growing in dense clumps.

Related Topics:
Perennial - Herb - Rhizome - Stem - Leaves

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The inflorescences are fan-shaped and contain 1 or more symmetrical, six-lobed, slightly fragrant flowers. These grow on a pedicel or lack a footstalk. The three sepals are spreading are sagging downwards. They expand from their narrow base into a broader limb (= expanded portion), adorned with lines or dots. The three, sometimes reduced, petals stand upright, partly behind the sepal bases. Some smaller iris species have all six lobes pointing straight outwards. The sepals and the petals differ from each other. They are united at their base into a floral tube, that lies above the ovary. The styles divide towards the apex into petaloid branches (see : pollination).

Related Topics:
Inflorescence - Flower - Sepal - Petal - Ovary

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