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short-stem iris, zigzag iris

Rhizomes

freely branching, producing extensive clumps, 1–2.5 cm diam.

Stems

declining or semi- erect, sharply zigzag, with short branch at each of 2–3 bends, leaf at every bend, flower bud at every bend, solid, 2.5–3 dm.

Leaves

basal erect, spreading, or prostrate, blade deep green, ensiform, 3.5–7 dm × 1.5–3.5 cm, somewhat glaucous;

cauline at each of 2–3 nodes, subtending and exceeding short branch and flower, blade 2–6 dm.

Inflorescences

with terminal unit 2-flowered, each short branch unit 1-flowered;

spathes foliaceous, lanceolate, 3–5 cm, subequal, apex acute;

outer green, exceeding inner;

inner partly scarious.

Flowers

perianth rich blue or blue-violet;

floral tube funnelform, 1–2 cm;

sepals ovate, 7.5–9 × 2.5–3 cm, base abruptly attenuate, claw light greenish yellow with darker veins, with prominent yellow midrib and large, yellow-white signal at union of limb and claw;

petals erect or spreading-erect, lighter blue than sepals, oblanceolate, 5–6.5 × 1.5–2 cm;

ovary prominently 6-angled, 1–1.3 cm;

style greenish, 3.5–4 cm, crests reflexed, semiovoid to subquadrate, 1.2–1.5 cm, margins irregularly toothed or entire;

stigmas 2-lobed, lobes rounded-deltoid;

pedicel 1–1.3 cm.

Capsules

hexagonal to almost circular in cross section with 6 equally placed ribs, with short beak at apex, 3–5 × 2–2.5 cm.

Seeds

in 2 rows per locule, light brown, irregularly circular, flattened, 3–5 mm, very corky.

2n

= 42, 44.

Iris brevicaulis

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat Open, rather moist woodlands
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MO; MS; OK; TN; ON
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[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Iris brevicaulis hybridizes with I. fulva to produce I. ×fulvala Dykes, and with I. giganticaerulea to produce I. ×flexicaulis Small.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 393.
Parent taxa Iridaceae > Iris > subg. Limniris > sect. Limniris > ser. Hexagonae
Sibling taxa
I. bracteata, I. chrysophylla, I. cristata, I. douglasiana, I. fernaldii, I. fulva, I. germanica, I. giganticaerulea, I. hartwegii, I. hexagona, I. hookeri, I. innominata, I. lacustris, I. longipetala, I. macrosiphon, I. missouriensis, I. munzii, I. orientalis, I. pallida, I. prismatica, I. pseudacorus, I. pumila, I. purdyi, I. savannarum, I. setosa, I. sibirica, I. tenax, I. tenuis, I. tenuissima, I. tridentata, I. verna, I. versicolor, I. virginica
Synonyms I. alabamensis, I. foliosa, I. mississippiensis
Name authority Rafinesque: Fl. Ludov., 20. (1817)
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