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Iris pseudacorus


Higher Taxonomy
Family: IridaceaeView DescriptionDichotomous Key
Common Name: IRIS FAMILY
Habit: [(Annual), shrub], perennial herb generally from [bulb], corm, or rhizome. Stem: generally erect, generally +- round in ×-section. Leaf: generally basal (few cauline), 2-ranked, +- sword-shaped, blade edge-wise to stem, with midvein or not; bases overlapped, sheathing. Inflorescence: generally +- terminal; spikes, umbel-like cymes, or flowers 1; flowers in spikes or 1 subtended by 2 subopposite flower bracts; umbel-like cymes enclosed by 2 subopposite, generally large, leaf-like inflorescence bracts, including various flower bracts. Flower: bisexual (unisexual), radial, with stamens erect, enclosing style, or bilateral, with stamens, style to 1 side, stamens not enclosing style; perianth radial, parts free or generally fused into tube above ovary, generally petal-like, in 2 series of 3, outer +- like inner (or not, in Iris, parts in that genus called sepals, petals), upper +- like lower or not; stamens 3, attached at base of outer 3 perianth parts or in tube, generally free; ovary inferior [(superior)], [(1)]3-chambered, placentas axile [(parietal)], style 1, branches 3, entire to 2-branched, thread- or petal-like with stigma abaxial, proximal to tip. Fruit: capsule, loculicidal. Seed: few to many.
Genera In Family: +- 65 genera, +- 2050 species: worldwide, especially Africa; many cultivated (e.g., Crocus, Dietes, Freesia, Gladiolus, Iris, Sisyrinchium). Note: Gladiolus italicus Mill., Gladiolus tristis L. are urban weeds. Sparaxis grandiflora (D. Delaroche) Ker Gawl., Sparaxis tricolor (Schneev.) Ker Gawl. are waifs.
eFlora Treatment Author: Peter Goldblatt, except as noted
Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.
Genus: IrisView DescriptionDichotomous Key


Common Name: IRIS
Habit: Rhizome [bulbs, fleshy roots]. Leaf: 2-ranked in basal fan; cauline 0--few, reduced, often bract-like, without development of distal portion. Inflorescence: +- flat cyme, flowers 1--many. Flower: perianth parts +- clawed; sepals generally wider than petals, spreading or reflexed, occasionally with white area in basal 3/4, this generally with smaller yellow area; petals erect; stamens free [(not)]; ovary inferior, style branches petal-like [(not)], arched over stamens, each with scale-like flap (with stigmas on inner surface) opposite stamen and just below 2-lobed tip (crest), with sepals forming 3, 2-lipped units [(not)]. Fruit: loculicidal capsule, rounded or triangular, chambers 3. Seed: generally compressed, pitted, light to dark brown (red).
Etymology: (Greek: rainbow, from flower colors) Note: Hybrids between some sympatric species; Iris germanica only sp. in California with bearded sepals.
eFlora Treatment Author: Carol A. Wilson
Reference: Wilson 2003 Syst Bot 28:39--46
Unabridged Reference: Lenz 1958 Aliso 4:1--72; Clarkson 1959 Madroño 15:115--122
Iris pseudacorus L.
NATURALIZED
Habit: Rhizome 30--40 mm diam. Stem: branched, 50--150 cm. Leaf: basal 20--35 mm wide, stiff, midvein conspicuous; cauline 3--6, similar to basal. Inflorescence: branched, flowers 3--6 per branch; lowest 2 bracts generally opposite, outer 5--7 cm, 10--20 mm wide. Flower: perianth generally bright yellow or cream with prominent brown veins, marks on sepals, tube 12--13 mm, barrel-shaped; sepals widely oblanceolate, 5--8 cm, 35--50 mm wide; petals obovate, clawed, 2--3 cm, 4--8 mm wide; style branches < 25 mm, crests 7--10 mm, stigmas rounded. Fruit: 5--8 cm. Chromosomes: 2n=24,30,32,34.
Ecology: Common. Pond margins, estuaries; Elevation: 100--1400 m. Bioregional Distribution: KR, NCoRI, n&c SNF, w edge c SNH, GV, CW, SCo, TR; Distribution Outside California: most of United States; native to Europe, Asia. Flowering Time: Apr--Jun Note: Invasive in ponds, streams, estuaries.
Jepson eFlora Author: Carol A. Wilson
Reference: Wilson 2003 Syst Bot 28:39--46
Index of California Plant Names (ICPN; linked via the Jepson Online Interchange)
Noxious Weed listed on the CDFA Weed Pest Ratings table
View the CDFA Pest Rating page for Iris pseudacorus
Weed listed by Cal-IPC

Previous taxon: Iris munzii
Next taxon: Iris purdyi


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Citation for this treatment: Carol A. Wilson 2012, Iris pseudacorus, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=29301, accessed on December 01, 2024.

Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2024, Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/, accessed on December 01, 2024.

Iris pseudacorus
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©2016 Keir Morse
Iris pseudacorus
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©2007 Neal Kramer
Iris pseudacorus
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©2016 Keir Morse
Iris pseudacorus
click for image enlargement
©2016 Keir Morse
Iris pseudacorus
click for image enlargement
©2016 Keir Morse

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Geographic subdivisions for Iris pseudacorus:
KR, NCoRI, n&c SNF, w edge c SNH, GV, CW, SCo, TR
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map of distribution 1

(Note: any qualifiers in the taxon distribution description, such as 'northern', 'southern', 'adjacent' etc., are not reflected in the map above, and in some cases indication of a taxon in a subdivision is based on a single collection or author-verified occurrence).






 

Data provided by the participants of the  Consortium of California Herbaria.

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All markers link to CCH specimen records. The original determination is shown in the popup window.
Blue markers indicate specimens that map to one of the expected Jepson geographic subdivisions (see left map). Purple markers indicate specimens collected from a garden, greenhouse, or other non-wild location.
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CCH collections by month Flowering-Fruiting Monthly Counts

Duplicates counted once; synonyms included.
Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa, if there are more than 1 infraspecific taxon in CA.
Blue line denotes eFlora flowering time (fruiting time in some monocot genera).