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bowltube iris, ground iris

Rhizomes

many-branched, forming tufts, with fibrous remains of old leaves at nodes, slender, 0.6–0.8 cm diam.;

roots few, fibrous.

Stems

simple, solid, almost absent or to 2.5 dm.

Leaves

basal longer than stem, blade light green, finely veined, narrowly linear, 3–4 dm × 0.4–0.6 cm, glaucous, margins not thickened, apex acute;

cauline 1–2, spreading, sheathing for about 1/2 length, foliaceous, blade not inflated, 0.7–1 dm.

Inflorescence units

(1–)2-flowered;

spathes nearly opposite, connivent, linear-lanceolate, 4–9.5 cm × 4–6 mm, subequal or outer longer.

Flowers

perianth indigo, purple, lavender, white, cream, or yellow;

floral tube linear, gradually dilating apically, 6 cm;

sepals usually with fine, dark veins basally, becoming coarser on claw, oblanceolate or obovate, 3.9–7 × 2 cm, base abruptly attenuate into claw;

petals oblanceolate, 3.5–6 × 0.5–1.6 cm, base gradually attenuate;

ovary ovoid, ca. 1 cm;

style 2–3.5 cm, crests overlapping, reflexed, semiovate, 0.8–1.8 cm, margins denticulate;

stigmas triangular, margins entire;

pedicel 1.5–2 cm.

Capsules

oblong to ovoid, somewhat 3-angled in cross section, 2.5–3 cm.

Seeds

dark brown, angular, finely wrinkled.

2n

= 40.

Iris macrosiphon

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat Sunny hillsides, meadows, roadsides
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Iris macrosiphon hybridizes with I. chrysophylla, I. douglasiana, I. fernaldii, I. hartwegii, I. innominata, I. munzii, I. purdyi, I. tenax, and I. tenuissima.

The invalid name “Iris californica” Leichtlin has sometimes been applied to a portion of this species.

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

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 384.
Parent taxa Iridaceae > Iris > subg. Limniris > sect. Limniris > ser. Californicae
Sibling taxa
I. bracteata, I. brevicaulis, 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. 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. elata
Name authority Torrey: Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 144. (1857)
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