Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee)
Iconic Features
- Flattened sprays of sword-shaped leaves
- Flower parts in threes
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
Browse Some Edgewood Plants in this Family
