Iris verna
Sp. Pl. 1: 39. 1753.
Rhizomes heterogeneous, whitish, cordlike portions 0.1–1.5 dm × 2–4 mm, enlarging to 6–8 mm diam., densely covered with brown, scalelike leaves, roots absent, or torulose with roots borne along entire rhizome. Stems simple, 5–15 cm. Leaves: basal with blade light green, ensiform, 0.3–1.5 dm × 0.3–1.3 cm, enlarging to 3.5 dm, glaucous; cauline 5–9, sheathing, imbricate, blade light green, obovate, 1.3–5 cm, increasing in length, proximal shortest, membranous, apex acute. Inflorescence units 1–2-flowered; spathes divergent, exposing floral tube, green, lanceolate, 2–2.5 cm, apex acuminate. Flowers: floral tube pale violet, filiform, 2.5–6.5 cm, expanding somewhat distally to 2.5–4 cm diam.; sepals widely spreading, blue to violet with yellow or orange longitudinal papillose band at base of blade, obovate, 2–6 × 0.8–2 cm, base gradually attenuate into claw, not crested; petals erect, arching inward at tip, spatulate, 2–7 × 1–2 cm, base abruptly attenuate into claw; ovary linear, to 1.3 cm; styles pale violet, 2.5–4 cm, crests linear-acute, narrow, 0.7 cm; stigmas rounded, margins entire; pedicel 1–3 cm, increasing to 25 cm as capsule matures. Capsules 3-angled with single ridge at each angle, almost hidden in bases of spathes, 1–3.2 × 0.8–1.5 cm, tapering into beak consisting of dried remnant of floral tube. Seeds dark brown, ribbed, 2.8–3.2 mm, lustrous, with small, fleshy aril basally.
Distribution
se United States.
Discussion
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Rhizomes 5–15 cm between offshoots; leaf blades 0.3–0.8 cm wide; capsules 1.2–1.8 cm. | Iris verna var. verna |
| 1 | Rhizomes 1.3 cm between offshoots; leaf blades 5–13 cm wide; capsules 2–3.2 cm. | Iris verna var. smalliana |