Iris brevicaulis |
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short-stem iris, zigzag iris |
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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 |
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Phenology | Flowering Apr–Jun. |
Habitat | Open, rather moist woodlands |
Distribution |
AL; AR; FL; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MO; MS; OK; TN; ON
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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 | |
Synonyms | I. alabamensis, I. foliosa, I. mississippiensis |
Name authority | Rafinesque: Fl. Ludov., 20. (1817) |
Web links |