View source for Iris

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Iris
|accepted_authority=Linnaeus
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Sp. Pl.
|place=1: 38. 1753
|year=1753
}}, {{Treatment/Publication
|title=Gen. Pl. ed.
|place=5, 24. 1754
|year=1754
}}
|basionyms=
|synonyms=
|hierarchy=Iridaceae;Iris
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Iridaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Iris]]</div></div>
|etymology=Greek iris, rainbow
|volume=Volume 26
|mention_page=page 17, 118, 348, 349, 350, 372, 373
|treatment_page=page 371
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-d0_s0" data-properties="whole_organism duration;whole_organism growth form"><b>Herbs,</b> perennial, from rhizomes [bulbs or fascicles of fleshy roots];</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s1" data-properties="rhizome variability;rhizome texture;branch shape;branch size;leaf shape;leaf reproduction;branch reproduction;branch quantity;branch shape;flowering-stem reproduction;flowering-stem quantity;flowering-stem shape">rhizomes homogeneous with branches like primary in size and texture, or heterogeneous, branches cordlike with scalelike leaves, enlarging at apex to produce vegetative leaves, additional cordlike branches, and flowering-stems.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s2" data-properties="flowering-stem architecture;flowering-stem architecture;flowering-stem orientation;flowering-stem architecture;flowering-stem architecture;flowering-stem shape;flowering-stem shape"><b>Flowering-</b>stems simple or branched, erect (declining or semierect and obviously zigzag in I. brevicaulis and some of its hybrids), solid or hollow, terete or slightly flattened.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s3" data-properties="basal leaf quantity"><b>Leaves:</b> basal 3–10, in fan;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s4" data-properties="blade architecture;blade architecture or pubescence or relief;blade shape;blade size or width;vein prominence">blade monofacial (except at base), smooth or ridged, sometimes centrally thickened, veins obscure to prominent;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s5" data-properties="cauline leaf quantity;cauline leaf position;cauline leaf length;cauline leaf architecture or shape;stem architecture;stem architecture or shape">cauline 0–4 on branched stems, usually similar to basal, subtending each branch, decreasing in length distally, sometimes bracteiform and sheathing stem.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s6" data-properties="inflorescence architecture;unit quantity;unit architecture;unit architecture"><b>Inflorescences </b>rhipidiate, units 1 or more-flowered, spathaceous;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s7" data-properties="spathe quantity;spathe growth form or texture;spathe texture;spathe duration;tip texture;keel fusion">spathes 2, herbaceous with scarious tips, or completely scarious, with or without distinct keel, often persisting and enclosing capsule (s) at maturity.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s8" data-properties="flower duration;flower quantity;flower orientation;flower odor;flower architecture;flower architecture"><b>Flowers </b>lasting 1–4 days, upward-facing, usually somewhat fragrant (odor extremely unpleasant in I. foetidissima), pedicellate or sessile;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s9" data-properties="perianth position;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth coloration;perianth variability;perianth architecture;perianth diameter">perianth epigynous, white, yellow, tan, brown, copper-red, maroon, blue, blue-violet, or purple, often with markings of contrasting colors, differentiated into sepals and petals, actinomorphic, 4–18 cm diam.;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s10" data-properties="floral-tube position or shape;floral-tube shape;floral-tube shape;floral-tube architecture;floral-tube architecture">floral-tube distal to ovary, terete or occasionally ridged, solid proximally, hollow distally;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s11" data-properties="sepal quantity;sepal orientation;sepal orientation;sepal size;ridge prominence;line fusion;line coloration or relief;hair pubescence;midrib height or length or size">sepals 3, spreading or reflexed, expanding either gradually or abruptly from claw into broader limb, with signal of prominent ridge, crest, distinct lines or dots, pubescence, or band of multicellular hairs (beard) along midline of claw and for short distance along midrib of limb;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s12" data-properties="petal quantity;petal orientation;petal orientation;petal orientation;petal size;petal prominence">petals 3, erect, spreading or rarely reflexed, sometimes very reduced and mostly hidden by sepal bases;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s13" data-properties="stamen fusion;stamen fixation or orientation;sepal arrangement">stamens opposite sepals, free but appressed to style-branches;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s14" data-properties="style orientation;branch architecture;lobe quantity;lobe shape;lobe shape">style dividing distally into petaloid branches, these arching outward and over stamens and claws of sepals, dividing at apex into 2 rounded or triangular lobes (style crests);</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s15" data-properties="">stigma a lip of tissue on adaxial surface of style arm at base of crest;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s16" data-properties="ovary shape;ovary shape;ovary shape;ovary architecture">ovary terete or roundly 3-angled or 6-angled or grooved.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s17" data-properties="fruit architecture;wall texture;wall condition or texture;wall texture;wall dehiscence"><b>Fruits </b>capsular, wall papery or becoming dry and hardened, sometimes indehiscent (in I. giganticaerulea).</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s18" data-properties="seed quantity;seed shape;seed shape;row quantity"><b>Seeds </b>4–20, in 1–2 rows per locule, often flattened in contact with others, rounded on outer surface;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s19" data-properties="aril prominence">seed-coat tan to dark-brown (red in I. foetidissima), thin, membranous, and smooth, or conspicuously roughened to extensively corky (usually in wetland species), with or without obvious aril.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s20" data-properties="seed-coat coloration;seed-coat width;seed-coat texture;seed-coat architecture or pubescence or relief;seed-coat texture">x = uncertain.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=Northern Hemisphere
|discussion=<p>Species ca. 280 (34 in the flora).</p><!--
--><p>Because irises have large, handsome flowers, have many different forms, colors, and color patterns, and are easily grown and propagated, they have become popular garden ornamentals. Many non-native irises may be found in the flora area, not only in specialized gardens, but in casual plantings and persisting around old dwellings, in cemeteries, and along roadsides. These include not only the more common bearded irises, but members of the Sibirian, Spuria, Japanese, and Dutch groups. In the Pacific Coast and southeastern areas of the flora, repeated hybridization, both natural and artificial, of some of the local species has produced hundreds of garden forms that have added greatly to the popularity of this genus. Asexual reproduction in many Iris species may be more important than sexual reproduction in their persistence, and many hybrid clones may persist for decades in sites no longer cultivated.</p><!--
--><p>The species of Iris differ from members of other native genera of the Iridaceae in North America in three ways: 1) the sets of outer and inner perianth members (sepals and petals herein) differ from each other in shape, orientation, and, in some cases, coloration; 2) the parts of the flowers—petals, sepals, stamens, and styles—are united basally into a floral tube that surmounts the ovary; and 3) the styles are petaloid and modified with some specialized structures to insure cross pollination.</p><!--
--><p>T. Holm (1929) restricted the term rhizome to a horizontal, usually subterranean, stem that produces roots from its lower surface and green leaves from its apex, developed directly from the plumule of the embryo. He recognized stolons as axillary, subterranean branches that do not bear green leaves but only membranaceous, scalelike ones. The rhizomes of Iris are of two basic kinds: homogeneous, with the branches like the primary one in size and texture, and heterogeneous, with the branches of the primary rhizome like stolons with scalelike leaves. These enlarge at the apex to produce green leaves and more stolonlike branches.</p><!--
--><p>According to B. Mathew (1990), Iris includes six subgenera. Species of subgenera Iris and Limniris are rhizomatous; the others are either bulbous or perennial from a fascicle of fleshy roots. Three species of subg. Iris are sometimes found naturalized from cultivation in the flora area. Other species of the subgenus are found here only in cultivation or as waifs. The native North American species of Iris all belong to subg. Limniris, usually referred to as the beardless irises. The four other subgenera, which are found in the flora area only in cultivation or as waifs, have all been recognized sometimes as separate genera: subg. Nepalensis (Dykes) Lawrence as Junopsis Schulze; subg. Xiphium (Miller) Spach as Xiphion Miller; subg. Scorpiris Spach as Juno Trattinnick; and subg. Hermodactyloides Spach as Iridodictyum Rodionenko. F. Köhlein (1987) accepted these four segregate genera; however, most current authors circumscribe Iris in the broad sense, as here.</p><!--
--><p>Elevation is unimportant in the taxonomy and ecology of Iris, and very rarely is it recorded on specimen labels. Consequently, elevations are not reported in the species treatments that follow.</p>
|tables=
|references=
}}<!--

--><div class="treatment-key">
==Key==
<div class="treatment-key-group">
  
{| class="wikitable fna-keytable"
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Sepals with multicellular hairs (beard) along midrib of claw and base of blade.
|[[#key-0-2| > 2]]
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Sepals without beard, usually with signal of contrasting color, fine pubescence, ridges, or cockscomblike crest.
|[[#key-0-4| > 4]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Stems absent or not more than 1 cm; floral tubes 6–10 cm; capsules borne on tips of rhizomes.
|[[Iris pumila|Iris pumila]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Stems 6–12 dm; floral tubes 1–2.5 cm; capsules borne on ends of stems and branches.
|[[#key-0-3| > 3]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Spathes entirely scarious, silvery white.
|[[Iris pallida|Iris pallida]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Spathes herbaceous with narrow scarious margins and tip, green, sometimes purple at base.
|[[Iris germanica|Iris germanica]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Rhizomes heterogeneous, innovations appearing at some distance from parent rhizome.
|[[#key-0-5| > 5]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Rhizomes homogeneous; innovations appearing close to parent rhizome.
|[[#key-0-9| > 9]]
|-id=key-0-5
|5
|Sepals with 3-ridged, toothed crests.
|[[#key-0-6| > 6]]
|-id=key-0-5
|5
|Sepals without crests or crests inconspicuous.
|[[#key-0-7| > 7]]
|-id=key-0-6
|6
|Stems 2.5–4.5 cm; floral tubes filiform, 4–8 cm; spathes sharply keeled.
|[[Iris cristata|Iris cristata]]
|-id=key-0-6
|6
|Stems 0.8–4 cm; floral tubes funnelform, 1–2 cm; spathes slightly keeled.
|[[Iris lacustris|Iris lacustris]]
|-id=key-0-7
|7
|Cordlike portions of rhizomes 4 dm; stems 3–8 dm; pedicels 3–7 cm; floral tubes 2–3 mm.
|[[Iris prismatica|Iris prismatica]]
|-id=key-0-7
|7
|Cordlike portions of rhizomes 0.1–2 dm; stems 0–3.5 dm; pedicels 0.4–3.5 cm; floral tubes 0.3–6.5 cm.
|[[#key-0-8| > 8]]
|-id=key-0-8
|8
|Cordlike portions of rhizomes 10–20 cm; stems 1–2-branched; leaf blades 15 mm wide; pedicels 0.4–1 cm.
|[[Iris tenuis|Iris tenuis]]
|-id=key-0-8
|8
|Cordlike portions of rhizomes 1–15 cm; stems simple; leaf blades 3–13 mm wide; pedicels 1–3 cm.
|[[Iris verna|Iris verna]]
|-id=key-0-9
|9
|Petals 1–2 cm.
|[[#key-0-10| > 10]]
|-id=key-0-9
|9
|Petals 2–9.5 cm.
|[[#key-0-12| > 12]]
|-id=key-0-10
|10
|Petals without apical bristle; se United States.
|[[Iris tridentata|Iris tridentata]]
|-id=key-0-10
|10
|Petals with apical bristle 3–8 mm.
|[[#key-0-11| > 11]]
|-id=key-0-11
|11
|Stems branched; Alaska, British Columbia, and Yukon.
|[[Iris setosa|Iris setosa]]
|-id=key-0-11
|11
|Stems usually simple, with single, clasping leaf at midstem; Maritime Provinces and e Maine.
|[[Iris hookeri|Iris hookeri]]
|-id=key-0-12
|12
|Stems hollow.
|[[Iris sibirica|Iris sibirica]]
|-id=key-0-12
|12
|Stems solid.
|[[#key-0-13| > 13]]
|-id=key-0-13
|13
|Capsules 6-angled or -ridged.
|[[#key-0-14| > 14]]
|-id=key-0-13
|13
|Capsules 3-angled or nearly round in cross section.
|[[#key-0-18| > 18]]
|-id=key-0-14
|14
|Perianths copper colored or reddish brown, rarely yellow; petals spreading or declining with sepals.
|[[Iris fulva|Iris fulva]]
|-id=key-0-14
|14
|Perianths blue-violet or rarely white; petals erect or spreading-erect.
|[[#key-0-15| > 15]]
|-id=key-0-15
|15
|Stems declining or semierect, sharply zigzag.
|[[Iris brevicaulis|Iris brevicaulis]]
|-id=key-0-15
|15
|Stems erect, not obviously zigzag.
|[[#key-0-16| > 16]]
|-id=key-0-16
|16
|Capsules with 3 plane faces and 3 faces with 2 rounded ridges; strongly hexagonal in cross section.
|[[Iris hexagona|Iris hexagona]]
|-id=key-0-16
|16
|Capsules approximately circular in cross section, only slightly if at all hexagonal, with 6 narrow, winglike ridges or 6 broadly rounded lobes.
|[[#key-0-17| > 17]]
|-id=key-0-17
|17
|Capsules with 6 sharp, winglike ridges, dehiscent.
|[[Iris savannarum|Iris savannarum]]
|-id=key-0-17
|17
|Capsules with 6 broad, rounded lobes, indehiscent.
|[[Iris giganticaerulea|Iris giganticaerulea]]
|-id=key-0-18
|18
|Rhizomes stout, 1–4 cm diam.; roots fleshy.
|[[#key-0-19| > 19]]
|-id=key-0-18
|18
|Rhizomes slender, 3–12 mm diam.; roots fibrous.
|[[#key-0-24| > 24]]
|-id=key-0-19
|19
|Perianths yellow or white.
|[[#key-0-20| > 20]]
|-id=key-0-19
|19
|Perianths blue-violet or rarely white.
|[[#key-0-21| > 21]]
|-id=key-0-20
|20
|Perianths entirely yellow.
|[[Iris pseudacorus|Iris pseudacorus]]
|-id=key-0-20
|20
|Perianths white with large yellow patch at base of sepals.
|[[Iris orientalis|Iris orientalis]]
|-id=key-0-21
|21
|Stigmas unlobed; leaf blades prominently veined; e, c United States and Canada.
|[[#key-0-22| > 22]]
|-id=key-0-21
|21
|Stigmas 2-lobed; leaf blades not prominently veined; w United States.
|[[#key-0-23| > 23]]
|-id=key-0-22
|22
|Sepals with yellow pubescent signal at base of blade.
|[[Iris virginica|Iris virginica]]
|-id=key-0-22
|22
|Sepals with pubescent, green or greenish yellow patch surrounded by heavily veined, purple-on-white signal at base of blade.
|[[Iris versicolor|Iris versicolor]]
|-id=key-0-23
|23
|Pedicels slender; spathes scarious, 3.5–7 cm; perianths veined deep blue-violet on lighter background; capsules 4–5 cm; w Great Plains and mountains.
|[[Iris missouriensis|Iris missouriensis]]
|-id=key-0-23
|23
|Pedicels stout; spathes herbaceous, 8–15 cm; perianths pale blue-violet or nearly white with prominent yellow ridge on sepal claws; capsules 8–9 cm; coastal nc California.
|[[Iris longipetala|Iris longipetala]]
|-id=key-0-24
|24
|Stems 1–4-branched.
|[[Iris douglasiana|Iris douglasiana]]
|-id=key-0-24
|24
|Stems simple.
|[[#key-0-25| > 25]]
|-id=key-0-25
|25
|Blades of fan leaves with margins thickened.
|[[Iris purdyi|Iris purdyi]]
|-id=key-0-25
|25
|Blades of fan leaves with margins not thickened.
|[[#key-0-26| > 26]]
|-id=key-0-26
|26
|Cauline leaves bractlike, imbricated, blade inflated.
|[[#key-0-27| > 27]]
|-id=key-0-26
|26
|Cauline leaves foliaceous, spreading, blade not inflated.
|[[#key-0-29| > 29]]
|-id=key-0-27
|27
|Floral tubes 0.8–0.9 cm.
|[[Iris bracteata|Iris bracteata]]
|-id=key-0-27
|27
|Floral tubes 3–12 cm.
|[[#key-0-28| > 28]]
|-id=key-0-28
|28
|Floral tubes linear; capsules 2–3 cm; pedicels absent or 0.5–1 cm at anthesis.
|[[Iris chrysophylla|Iris chrysophylla]]
|-id=key-0-28
|28
|Floral tubes funnelform; capsules 3–4 cm; pedicels 0.8–1.8 cm at anthesis.
|[[Iris tenuissima|Iris tenuissima]]
|-id=key-0-29
|29
|Floral tubes greater than 1.5 cm.
|[[#key-0-30| > 30]]
|-id=key-0-29
|29
|Floral tubes 0.5–1.5 cm (occasionally to 2 cm in I. tenax).
|[[#key-0-32| > 32]]
|-id=key-0-30
|30
|Floral tubes 1.5–3 cm.
|[[Iris innominata|Iris innominata]]
|-id=key-0-30
|30
|Floral tubes 3–8 cm.
|[[#key-0-31| > 31]]
|-id=key-0-31
|31
|Spathes broadly lanceolate; leaf blades 7–8 mm wide; perianths creamy yellow.
|[[Iris fernaldii|Iris fernaldii]]
|-id=key-0-31
|31
|Spathes linear-lanceolate; leaf blades 4–6 mm wide; perianths indigo blue, purple, lavender, white, cream, or yellow.
|[[Iris macrosiphon|Iris macrosiphon]]
|-id=key-0-32
|32
|Rhizomes creeping, not producing dense clumps.
|[[Iris hartwegii|Iris hartwegii]]
|-id=key-0-32
|32
|Rhizomes many-branched, producing dense clumps.
|[[#key-0-33| > 33]]
|-id=key-0-33
|33
|Stems 1.5–2.7 dm; inflorescence units 1–2-flowered; style crests with margins crenate or incised.
|[[Iris tenax|Iris tenax]]
|-id=key-0-33
|33
|Stems 6–7 dm; inflorescence units 3(–4)-flowered; style crests with margins entire or obscurely lobed.
|[[Iris munzii|Iris munzii]]
|}
</div></div><!--

-->{{#Taxon:
name=Iris
|author=Norlan C. Henderson
|authority=Linnaeus
|rank=genus
|parent rank=family
|synonyms=
|basionyms=
|family=Iridaceae
|distribution=Northern Hemisphere
|reference=None
|publication title=Sp. Pl.;Gen. Pl. ed.
|publication year=1753;1754
|special status=
|source xml=https://bibilujan@bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-fine-grained-xml.git/src/84153f6d59a0a91d69695978a64cee7560374f8e/V26/V26_761.xml
|genus=Iris
|aril prominence=obvious
|basal leaf quantity=3;10
|blade architecture=monofacial
|blade architecture or pubescence or relief=smooth
|blade shape=ridged
|blade size or width=thickened
|branch architecture=petaloid
|branch quantity=additional
|branch reproduction=vegetative
|branch shape=cordlike;cordlike
|branch size=enlarging
|cauline leaf architecture or shape=bracteiform
|cauline leaf length=decreasing
|cauline leaf position=subtending
|cauline leaf quantity=0;4
|floral-tube architecture=hollow;solid
|floral-tube position or shape=distal
|floral-tube shape=ridged;terete
|flower architecture=sessile;pedicellate
|flower duration=lasting
|flower odor=fragrant
|flower orientation=upward-facing
|flower quantity=1;4
|flowering-stem architecture=hollow;solid;branched;simple
|flowering-stem orientation=erect
|flowering-stem quantity=additional
|flowering-stem reproduction=vegetative
|flowering-stem shape=flattened;terete;cordlike
|fruit architecture=capsular
|hair pubescence=multicellular
|inflorescence architecture=rhipidiate
|keel fusion=distinct
|leaf reproduction=vegetative
|leaf shape=scale-like
|line coloration or relief=dots
|line fusion=distinct
|lobe quantity=2
|lobe shape=triangular;rounded
|midrib height or length or size=short
|ovary architecture=grooved
|ovary shape=6-angled;3-angled;terete
|perianth architecture=actinomorphic
|perianth coloration=purple;blue-violet;purple;blue-violet;blue;maroon;copper-red;brown;tan;yellow;white
|perianth diameter=4cm;18cm
|perianth position=epigynous
|perianth variability=differentiated
|petal orientation=reflexed;spreading;erect
|petal prominence=hidden
|petal quantity=3
|petal size=reduced
|rhizome texture=heterogeneous
|rhizome variability=homogeneous
|ridge prominence=prominent
|row quantity=1;2
|seed quantity=4;20
|seed shape=rounded;flattened
|seed-coat architecture or pubescence or relief=smooth
|seed-coat coloration=tan;dark-brown
|seed-coat texture=conspicuously roughened;extensively corky
|seed-coat width=thin
|sepal arrangement=opposite
|sepal orientation=reflexed;spreading
|sepal quantity=3
|sepal size=expanding
|spathe duration=persisting
|spathe growth form or texture=herbaceous
|spathe quantity=2
|spathe texture=scarious
|stamen fixation or orientation=appressed
|stamen fusion=free
|stem architecture=branched
|stem architecture or shape=sheathing
|style orientation=arching
|tip texture=scarious
|unit architecture=spathaceous;more-flowered
|unit quantity=1
|vein prominence=obscure;prominent
|wall condition or texture=dry
|wall dehiscence=indehiscent
|wall texture=hardened;papery
|whole_organism duration=perennial
|whole_organism growth form=herb
}}<!--

-->[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Iridaceae]]