IRIDACEAE

IRIS FAMILY

Elizabeth McClintock, except as specified

Perennial, bulbed, cormed, or rhizomed
Stem generally erect
Leaves generally basal (a few cauline), 2-ranked, ± linear, generally grass-like, generally sharply folded along midrib; bases overlapping, sheathing
Inflorescence: spike, raceme, panicle, ± terminal, or flowers solitary; bracts ± like leaf bases, sheathing
Flower generally bisexual, generally radial; hypanthium fused to ovary; perianth parts generally fused into tube above ovary, generally petal-like, in 2 series of 3, outer (sepals) generally ± like inner (petals); stamens 3, generally attached to sepals, filaments fused below into a tube or not; ovary inferior, 3-chambered, placentas generally axile, style 1, each of 3 branches entire or 2-branched or -lobed, petal-like or not, with stigma on under surface instead of at tip
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal
Seeds few–many
Genera in family: 80 genera, ± 1500 species: worldwide, especially Africa; many cultivated (e.g., Iris, Gladiolus, Crocus, Freesia ).

IRIS

IRIS

Douglass M. Henderson and Anita F. Cholewa

Perennial; rhizome creeping or ± tuber-like
Inflorescence: flowers 1–many
Flower: perianth parts clawed, sepals (wider, spreading or reflexed) unlike petals (generally narrower, erect); style branches ± petal-like, arching over stamens, each with flat, scale-like stigma on surface facing stamen, just below generally 2-lobed tip (crest)
Seeds compressed, pitted
Species in genus: Perhaps 150 species: generally n temp
Etymology: (Greek: rainbow, from flower colors)
Reference: [Lenz 1958 Aliso 4:1–72; Clarkson 1959 Madroño 15:115–122]
Hybrids are common, especially in I. tenax alliance; some authors lump taxa recognized here.
Horticultural information: Pacific Iris hybrids; CVS.

Native

I. tenax Lindl. subsp. klamathensis L.W. Lenz

ORLEANS IRIS

Rhizome 30–50 mm diam
Stem < 4 dm
Leaf 3–8 mm wide, generally >> stem; base bright red or pink
Inflorescence: flowers 1–2; lowest 2 bracts alternate, < 18 mm apart, spreading, lower of these 4.7–9.5 cm, 3–6 mm wide
Flower: perianth pale buff yellow, with deep maroon or brownish veins on sepals, tube 11–20 mm, sepals 5.3–7.3 cm, 15–24 mm wide; style branches 20–30 mm, crests 8–16 mm, narrowly ovate, stigmas triangular
Ecology: UNCOMMON. ± shaded mixed-evergreen forests
Elevation: ± 100–500 m.
Bioregional distribution: w Klamath Ranges (near Orleans, Humboldt Co.)
Horticultural information: DRN: 4, 5 &IRR: 15, 16, 17 &SHD: 6, 7, 14.