IRIS ALBICANS

Family and Genus:- See- IRIDACEAE/Subgen. IRIS/Sect. IRIS

Common Names:- White iris

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Iris (L) After Iris, the mythological messenger of the gods of the

rainbow.

Albicans (L) Being white.

General description:- A robust medium to tall, rhizomatous perennial.

Rhizome:-

1) Thick, spreading on the surface of the ground.

Stems:-

1) To 80cm tall.

Leaves:-

1) 30-70 cm x 20-35 mm, ensiform, more or less straight, somewhat glaucous.

Flowers:-

1) (3-)4(-5), pure white, lower, subsessile on the main axis and enclosed by the

subtending bract up to anthesis.

2) Spathes, 35-55 mm, scarcely exceeding the hypanthial tube, scarious in the

upper 1/2-2/3, often tinged with purple.

3) Hypanthial tube, 17-25 mm.

4) Falls, 55-90 x 40-60 mm, cuneate-obovate, without a distinct claw.

5) Standards, 55-90 x 45-60 mm, broadly elliptical, with a short, wide claw.

Fruit:-

1) Seeds, pyriform rugose,reddish-brown.

Key features:-

1) Spathes, scarious in upper half.

2) Lower flowers ± sessile, enclosed by subtending bract up to anthesis.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry rocky habitats, field margins, graveyards, cultivated land, roadsides.

0-900 m. or higher.

Distribution:- Commonly cultivated in gardens and cemeteries and may persist for

some time in the outskirts of villages, hence true distribution figures are unavailable.

Flowering time:- Mar-Apr.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton