Iris sibirica

Rhizomes compact, freely branching, forming dense clumps, 0.9–1.2 cm diam., covered with remnants of old leaves. Stems simple or 1–3-branched, hollow, 6–12 dm. Leaves dying back in winter, blade dark green, often tinged pink at base, 4–8 dm × 0.4–0.6 cm. Inflorescence units 3–5-flowered, lateral units 2–3-flowered; spathes brown, to 4 cm, narrow, papery, apex acute. Flowers: perianth light to dark blue-violet to white; floral tube with indistinct ribs, circular, ca. 1 cm; sepals flaring or curving downward apically, widely orbiculate, 5–7 × 2–2.5 cm, base abruptly attenuate into claw with two narrow flanges basally, signal white, semicircular, with dark violet veins basally; petals erect, narrowly elliptic-obovate, 4.5–5.5 × 1.5–1.8 cm; ovary roundly triangular, spindle-shaped, 1.5–2 cm; style pale blue, bluntly keeled, 4–5 cm, crests overlapping, triangular, margins crenate; stigmas tonguelike projections, triangular; pedicel 1–15 cm, unequal, later flowers in each spathe with longer pedicel. Capsules roundly triangular with low ridges at angles, 3–4.5 × 1–1.3 cm, smooth, apex with extremely short tip, opening only in upper 1/4–1/3 of capsule. Seeds in 2 rows per locule, dark brown, D-shaped, flattened, 5 × 3 mm, slightly roughened by small, rounded protuberances. 2n = 28.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Widely cultivated, found along roadsides

Ont., Calif., Conn., Maine, Mass., N.Y., Pa., Vt., expected elsewhere, Eurasia.

Discussion

Many forms of Iris sibirica have been cultivated widely across North America, where it is quite hardy and persistent.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa