Siberian iris
Iridaceae (Iris family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from a dense, fibrous root; flowering stems usually simple, sometimes branched, 50-120 cm tall.
Leaves:
Mostly basal, linear-lanceolate, 25-80 cm long, 4-10 mm wide, entire, the tips long-pointed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of 1 to 3 (5) showy flowers on stout, 5- to 10-cm long stalks; flowers violet-blue, rarely white, the tubes flared above, 4-7 mm long, the bracts brown and papery at flowering time; petals erect to ascending, 2.5-4.5 cm long, 1.2-2 mm wide; sepals spoon-shaped, 3-5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, bent back; style branches 2-2.5 cm long, the crests less than 1/2 as long; stigmas rounded.
Fruits:
Capsules, nearly cylindrical, 3-4 cm long; seeds numerous.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Mesic to moist waste places and roadsides in the lowland zone; rare garden escape in S BC; introduced from Eurasia.Status Information
Taxonomic Keys
1. Flowers yellow; plants usually more than 1 m tall.................Iris pseudacorus
1. Flowers predominantly blue, purple, or white; plants usually less than 1 m tall. 2. Principle leaves usually more than 1 cm wide; petals (standards) 0.5-2 cm long, sharp-pointed; plants occurring N of 60 degrees N, also SE AK and YK........Iris setosa 2 Principle leaves 1 cm wide, or less; petals (standards) 3-6 cm long, blunt-tipped; plants occurring in S BC 3. Blades of sepals (falls) oblanceolate; bracts green or reddish and not papery at flowering time............Iris missouriensis 3. Blades of sepals (falls) broadly rounded; bracts brown and papery at flowering time...............Iris sibirica Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia |