| Iris filifolia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Iris subg. Xiphium |
| Section: | Iris sect. Xiphium |
| Species: | I. filifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Iris filifolia | |
| Synonyms | |
Iris filifolia is a species in the genus Iris , it is also in the subgenus Xiphium . It is a bulbous perennial from North Africa and Europe. It has thin leaves, summer flowers in shades of red-purple.
It has 3 mm wide leaves, [4] which appear in the autumn. [5] It normally reaches a height of 10-16 inches (or 25–40 cm). [6] But can reach up to 45 cm tall. [5] It flowers between March and June. [6] Normally more than 2 flowers per stem. [7] When the flowering shoot comes out of the ground it is covered in a purple or white blotched sheath. [4] These then open up to revel red-purple flowers with orange spots, [6] or yellow stripe on the falls. [8]
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. [6] It has a chromosome count: 2n=32. [8]
Its name means 'thread-leaved iris'. [9]
In Gibraltar, it is also known as the 'Narrow-leaved Purple Iris'. [10]
It is often mistakenly called 'Spanish Iris'. [11] The Spanish Iris is Iris xiphium .
In 1842, it was first described by Pierre Edmond Boissier in 'Voyage botanique en Espagne' Vol 2, on page 602. [12] Dykes notes that this description is incorrect. [13] It was also described in Curtis's Botanical Magazine No.5929 as 'Xiphion filifolium'. [3]
It was recorded in the Catalogue of Life in 2011, [2] and it was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, and updated on 14 November 2005. [14]
It is native to temperate regions of North Africa and Europe. [14]
It was found originally on Sierra de Mijas, [15] and Sierra Bermeja in Spain, at 3,000–4,000 ft (910–1,220 m) above sea level. [3]
It is found within Africa, in Morocco, (near Tangier, [6] [8] ) and within Europe, in Southwestern Spain, [14] [6] [8] and in Gibraltar. [10] [8]
Iris filifolia likes to grow in sandy areas. [16]
It is best grown in a bulb frame in the UK. [17]
Several known cultivars are; [3]
Iris is a flowering plant genus of 310 accepted species with showy flowers. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is flags, while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as junos, particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower.
Iris latifolia, the English iris, also known as I. xiphiodes and I. anglica, is a hardy flowering bulbous species of the Iris genus, in the family Iridaceae. It is native to the Pyrenees of Southwestern France and Northwestern Spain. It is widely cultivated in temperate regions for its purple flowers which appear in early Summer.
Iris graminea is a species of flowering plant belonging to the subgenus Limniris of the genus Iris, in particular the series Spuriae. It is a rhizomatous perennial, with purple or violet blue flowers almost hidden by narrow, grass-like leaves, and a plum scented fragrance. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It has several common names, including grass-leaved flag, grass leaved iris, plum iris and plum tart iris. This species naturally occurs in the southern half of Europe, from Spain and France in the West to Russia and the Caucasus in the East.
Iris danfordiae, the dwarf iris or Danford iris, is a bulbous perennial plant in the genus Iris, it is classified in the subgenus Hermodactyloides and section Reticulatae. It is from Turkey in Asia. It has 2 gray-green or bluish green, thick leaves, short slender stem holding a scented flower, in shades of yellow. They are spotted olive-green or green and have a deep yellow or orange crest.
Iris vartanii is a plant species in the genus Iris. It is classified in the subgenus Hermodactyloides and section Reticulatae. It is a bulbous perennial.
Iris histrio, the Syrian iris, is a species in the genus Iris, it is classified in the subgenus Hermodactyloides and section Reticulatae. It is a bulbous perennial from Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and southern Turkey.
Subgenus Xiphium is a subgenus of Iris. If considered a separate genus from Iris, it is known as genus Xiphion.
Iris tingitana is a species in the genus Iris in the subgenus of Xiphium.
Iris serotina is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Xiphium. It is a bulbous perennial from southern Europe, found in Spain and Morocco.
Iris boissieri, is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Xiphium. It is from Europe, mainly Spain and Portugal. It has blue-purple flowers with a yellow beard.
Iris rutherfordii is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Xiphium. It is a bulbous perennial.
Iris rosenbachiana, the spinster iris, is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Scorpiris. It is a bulbous perennial from Central Asia, within Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It has long mid-green leaves, short flower stem, sweet scented flowers in early spring in shades of purple.
Iris vicaria is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Scorpiris. It is a bulbous perennial from Asia, found in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It has tall arching leaves, and has varied coloured flowers, with white, blue and purple between April and May.
Iris songarica is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Tenuifoliae of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from Central Asia, located in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It has long strap-like leaves, a long stem and 2–3 flowers in shades of violet, dark blue, to lavender blue.
Iris hoogiana is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Regelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the grassy mountainsides of Turkestan. It has long green leaves, which are slightly purple at the base, and a long slender flowering stem. The flowers are blue, ranging from sky-blue to lavender blue and blue purple. It has orange or yellow beards. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris sambucina, the elder scented iris, is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from southern and central Europe. It has green, curved or sword-like leaves, tall round stem, multiple flowers in shades from brown violet, or brown-purple, to purple-violet, blue violet, mauve, and to purple. The large flowers are fragrant, with the scent of elderflowers, hence the name. It was first considered a separate species, then it was classified as a synonym of Iris germanica, before being classified as a separate species again, but with a hybrid origin from Iris pallida and Iris variegata. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris suaveolens is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Eastern Europe, ranging from the Balkans to Turkey. It has short, sickle shaped or curved, blue-green or greyish green leaves, a slender simple stem, with 1 or 2 fragrant spring blooming, flowers, between yellow and purple, with white or yellow beards. It was once known as Iris mellita, until that was re-classified as a synonym of Iris suaveolens. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris subbiflora is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Portugal and Spain in Europe. It has evergreen broad leaves, forming dense clumps, it has dwarf stems in late spring,, with 1 upright fragrant flower, in shades of purple, light red purple, grey-blue, blue-violet, or dark violet. It has a beard which is generally blue, purple, or violet, but can fade to white, dull yellow, or dark yellow. After being found in 1804, it was once a separate species until the late 70s, when it was reclassified as subspecies of Iris lutescens, and renamed Iris lutescens subsp. subbiflora. But in the 80s it was returned to an independent species but some authors and references still class the species as a synonym or subspecies. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris gatesii is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Oncocyclus. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the mountains of Turkey and Iraq. It has long, narrow, grey-green or glaucous leaves. The strong, sturdy stem supports a single large flower in spring, between April and June. The large flowers are very variable in colouring, ranging from a pale greenish, grey, white, or creamy-yellow background colour, which is then covered with many purplish-brown, purple, or nearly black, spots, dots, short broken lines, or veining. They have a brownish purple or purple beard, over a dark signal patch. It can be cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, if it does not get too wet during summer.
Media related to Iris filifolia at Wikimedia Commons 
Data related to Iris filifolia at Wikispecies
