Iris Family :

Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee)

Iconic Features

Description (Jepson)

Monocotyledons (monocots) – monocots are a major lineage of flowering, mostly herbaceous plants, generally characterized by
- Single seed leaf (cotyledon)
- Linear or oblong leaves with parallel venation
- Flower parts in threes
- Pollen grains with a single pore
- Vascular bundles scattered in stem
- Fibrous root system
Perennial herbs
Geophytes (plants with underground storage organs)
- Grow from bulbs (short underground stems with fleshy leaves, e.g. onion), corms (short, solid underground stems), or rhizomes (horizontal underground stems)
Leaves
- Usually basal, simple (not divided into leaflets), and alternate (one leaf at each junction with stem)
- Sword-shaped, often with a distinct central fold
- Sheathing the stem, in a flattened, fan-like arrangement
Flowers
- Inflorescence (flower arrangement) in small groups or single flower, emerging from a distinct pair of bracts (modified leaves)
- Bisexual, radially or bilaterally symmetric, saucer or funnel shaped flowers
  - 3 petals and 3 colorful sepals (outer flower parts)
  - 3 stamen (versus 6 stamen of Lily family members)
- Ovary usually inferior (below the attachment of other flower parts)
Fruit a capsule (a dry, multi-chambered fruit that splits open at maturity)

Notes

2,050 species worldwide, especially in Africa
- Grow in a great variety of habitats, especially in climates with long dry or cold periods
- Includes irises, gladiolas, freesias, and crocuses
Geophytes (e.g. plants growing from bulbs, corms, rhizomes, or enlarged taproots) are well adapted to survive fire, our Mediterranean climate’s long, dry summers, and extended droughts
- Above-ground growth dies back after flowering, while underground the plant survives with stored water and nutrients
Scientific and common name from the included genus Iris, named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, referring to the flower colors
Represented by 7 species at Edgewood, only 2 of which are native

General References

Calflora Database. 2014. Berkeley, California.

Calscape. 2018. California Native Plant Society.

Corelli, T. 2004. Flowering Plants of Edgewood Natural Preserve (2nd. ed.). Monocot Press, Half Moon Bay, California.

Elpel, T.J. 2013. Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification. HOPS Press, Pony, Montana.

Harris, J.G., and M.W. Harris. 2013. Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary. Spring Lake Publishing, Spring Lake, Utah.

Keator, G. 2009. California Plant Families. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California.

Regents of the University of California. Jepson eFlora. Jepson Herbarium. University of California, Berkeley.

Browse Some Edgewood Plants in this Family