Iris bracteata
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 20: 375. 1885.
Rhizomes sheathed with old leaf-bases, slender, 0.6–0.9 cm diam.; roots few, fibrous. Stems simple, solid, 1.5–3 dm. Leaves: basal with abaxial surface of blades deep glossy green on one side of fan, light yellow-green on other side, pink or red-tinged basally, strongly ribbed, 4–6 dm × 0.8–1 cm, rigid, margins not thickened; cauline 3–6, imbricated, closely sheathing stem ca. 2/3 length, spreading distally, bractlike, blade inflated, often shorter than basal leaves. Inflorescences simple, units 1–2-flowered; spathes closed tightly around pedicel and ovary, lanceolate, 5.2–9 cm × 6–8 mm, subequal, herbaceous, margins scarious, apex acuminate. Flowers: perianth cream to buff-yellow; floral-tube 0.8–0.9 cm; sepals with deeper yellow signal, veined with purple or brown, obovate-lanceolate, 6.5 × 2.5 cm, base gradually attenuate into wide claw; petals narrowly oblanceolate, 7–9 × 0.8–2 cm, base gradually attenuate; ovary nearly circular in cross-section, 1.5–2.5 cm, base gradually attenuate into pedicel, apex abruptly acuminate into floral-tube; style 2.2–3 cm, crests spreading, yellow, not veined, 1.2 × 0.9–1.7 cm, margins toothed; stigmas triangular or tongue-shaped, margins entire; pedicel 3–6.2 cm. Capsules nearly circular in cross-section, tapering abruptly at each end, 2–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm. Seeds dark-brown, irregular in shape, wrinkled. 2n = 40.
Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Shady forests, particularly ponderosa pine
Discussion
Iris bracteata is limited to one county each in northern California and southern Oregon. It hybridizes with I. chrysophylla, I. douglasiana, I. innominata, I. munzii, I. purdyi, and I. tenax.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
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