TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993)	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California

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. longipetala Herb.

Rhizome 10–25 mm diam
Stem 3–6 dm, generally with 1–2 leaves
Leaf 4–9 mm wide
Inflorescence: flowers 3–6; lowest 2 bracts alternate, 0.5–10 cm apart, rarely opposite, lower or outer of these 7–15 cm
Flower: perianth lilac-purple with darker veins, tube 5–13 mm, sepals 6–10 cm, generally 30–50 mm wide, petals notched at tip; style branches < 40 mm, crests < 15 mm, stigmas ± 2-lobed
Chromosomes: 2n=86–88
Ecology: Moist, open places
Elevation: < 600 m.
Bioregional distribution: c&s North Coast, s Outer North Coast Ranges, n&c Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area
Horticultural information: 4, 5, 6, 17; IRR: 24 &SHD: 7, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.