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 ).

SISYRINCHIUM

Douglass M. Henderson and Anita F. Cholewa

Perennial; rhizomes compact
Stems single or tufted, generally ± flat and winged or rounded, sometimes with leaf-bearing nodes well above basal leaves, each with 1 or more flower-branches
Leaf narrow, grass-like
Inflorescence: flowers in umbel-like clusters; bracts 2, equal in length or not, margins translucent
Flower ephemeral; perianth reddish purple, bluish, violet, yellow, rarely white, parts ± alike, but outer generally wider; filaments ± completely free to ± completely fused
Seeds ovoid, smooth or pitted
Species in genus: ± 70 species: w hemisphere
Etymology: (Name used by Theophrastus for Iris-like plant)
Reference: [Henderson 1976 Brittonia 28:149–176]

Native

S. funereum E.P. Bicknell

Stems tufted, < 70 cm, almost always with leaf-bearing nodes, pale green, glaucous
Inflorescence: translucent margins of inner bract widest at tip, extending above tip as 2 rounded teeth
Flower: perianth 10–15 mm, generally pale blue, tips truncate to sometimes notched, with a small point
Chromosomes: n=16
Ecology: Generally strongly alkaline margins of wet areas
Elevation: < 800 m.
Bioregional distribution: ne Mojave Desert (Death Valley region)
Distribution outside California: adjacent Nevada
Flowering time: Feb–Apr
Self-incompatible
Horticultural information: IRR, ALKALINE: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.