Iris macrosiphon |
Iris sibirica |
|
---|---|---|
bowltube iris, ground iris |
Siberian iris |
|
Rhizomes | many-branched, forming tufts, with fibrous remains of old leaves at nodes, slender, 0.6–0.8 cm diam.; roots few, fibrous. |
compact, freely branching, forming dense clumps, 0.9–1.2 cm diam., covered with remnants of old leaves. |
Stems | simple, solid, almost absent or to 2.5 dm. |
simple or 1–3-branched, hollow, 6–12 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. |
dying back in winter, blade dark green, often tinged pink at base, 4–8 dm × 0.4–0.6 cm. |
Inflorescence units | (1–)2-flowered; spathes nearly opposite, connivent, linear-lanceolate, 4–9.5 cm × 4–6 mm, subequal or outer longer. |
3–5-flowered, lateral units 2–3-flowered; spathes brown, to 4 cm, narrow, papery, apex acute. |
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. |
perianth light to dark blue-violet to white; floral tube with indistinct ribs, circular, ca. 1 cm; sepals flaring or curving downward apically, widely orbiculate, 5–7 × 2–2.5 cm, base abruptly attenuate into claw with two narrow flanges basally, signal white, semicircular, with dark violet veins basally; petals erect, narrowly elliptic-obovate, 4.5–5.5 × 1.5–1.8 cm; ovary roundly triangular, spindle-shaped, 1.5–2 cm; style pale blue, bluntly keeled, 4–5 cm, crests overlapping, triangular, margins crenate; stigmas tonguelike projections, triangular; pedicel 1–15 cm, unequal, later flowers in each spathe with longer pedicel. |
Capsules | oblong to ovoid, somewhat 3-angled in cross section, 2.5–3 cm. |
roundly triangular with low ridges at angles, 3–4.5 × 1–1.3 cm, smooth, apex with extremely short tip, opening only in upper 1/4–1/3 of capsule. |
Seeds | dark brown, angular, finely wrinkled. |
in 2 rows per locule, dark brown, D-shaped, flattened, 5 × 3 mm, slightly roughened by small, rounded protuberances. |
2n | = 40. |
= 28. |
Iris macrosiphon |
Iris sibirica |
|
Phenology | Flowering Apr–Jun. | Flowering May–Jul. |
Habitat | Sunny hillsides, meadows, roadsides | Widely cultivated, found along roadsides |
Distribution |
CA
|
CA; CT; MA; ME; NY; PA; VT; ON; expected elsewhere; Eurasia [Introduced in North America] |
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.) |
Many forms of Iris sibirica have been cultivated widely across North America, where it is quite hardy and persistent. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 384. | FNA vol. 26, p. 382. |
Parent taxa | Iridaceae > Iris > subg. Limniris > sect. Limniris > ser. Californicae | Iridaceae > Iris > subg. Limniris > sect. Limniris > ser. Sibirica |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | I. elata | |
Name authority | Torrey: Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 144. (1857) | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 39. (1753) |
Web links |