Iris

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Iridaceae

• Scientific Name

  Iris

• Description

  Genus Description - Sep spreading or reflexed; pet erect or arching, in our spp. narrower and shorter than the petaloid sep; tep all united below into a perianth-tube; stamens inserted at the base of the sep; ovary 3- or 6-angled or -lobed; style divided distally into 3 petaloid branches arching over the stamens, each 2-lobed at the tip; stigma a thin plate or lip at the outer base of the 2 lobes; fr coriaceous or chartaceous, loculicidal or indehiscent; seeds in 1 or 2 rows per locule; perennial herbs with ensiform or linear lvs, our spp. with horizontal rhizomes and usually erect fl-stalks bearing 1–many fls. 200, N. Temp. Much hybridized in cult.

• Common Names

  iris, flag, fleur-de-lys