SIBERIAN IRIS

Iris Sibirica

Iris Family [Iridaceae]

flower

inner

petals

3+3+'3'

stem

toxicity

19th June 2010, Rochdale Canal, Stubbins, Hebden Bridge.

Photo: © RWD

Growing by the side of the water, long wide grassy leaves with stiff round stems, each with two or three large bluish flowers at the top.

19th June 2010, Rochdale Canal, Stubbins, Hebden Bridge.

Photo: © RWD

Two spent flowers below the third still extant flower. Three striped blue and white with yellow bracts droop downwards. Three all-blue 'petals' spread out horizontally, whilst another three all-blue petals stretch upwards. [In reality, Irises have but three petals, the rest are sepals or other structures].

19th June 2010, Rochdale Canal, Stubbins, Hebden Bridge.

Photo: © RWD

The blue of the petals is mid-way to being mauve.

19th June 2010, Rochdale Canal, Stubbins, Hebden Bridge.

Photo: © RWD

The outer sepals are strikingly patterned in purple stripes over-laying yellow, perhaps a warning of its toxicity, and reminiscent of the discordant purple on yellow patterning on the flowers of Henbane.

19th June 2010, Rochdale Canal, Stubbins, Hebden Bridge.

Photo: © RWD

The tiger stripes at close quarters.

19th June 2010, Rochdale Canal, Stubbins, Hebden Bridge.

Photo: © RWD

Fawn and orange-coloured sheaths at the juncture of bifurcating flower stalks.

19th June 2010, Rochdale Canal, Stubbins, Hebden Bridge.

Photo: © RWD

The long wide sword-shaped leaves are slightly translucent at the edges.

Flower pattern of 3 + 3 + 3 'petals' similar to other flowers of the Iris Family. There are only three real petals, the others are sepals of one sort or another.

Some similarities to : Purple Iris, which has deeper yellow coloration down the middle of the outer three sepals.

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature :

Like many other Irises, Siberian Iris contains the cardiac poison Iridin.

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Distribution
family8Iris family8Iridaceae

BSBI maps

Iris