Iris cristata Aiton

Crested iris (en)

Species

Angiosperms > Asparagales > Iridaceae > Iris

Characteristics

Rhizomes producing fleshy roots, and 2–8 cordlike branches at apex, cordlike portion 2–3 dm × 1–2 mm, gradually enlarging to 8–12 mm diam., nodes with brown, scalelike leaves and rarely roots. Stems simple, 2.5–4.5 cm. Leaves: basal 6–8, proximal 2–3 sheathing, blade light brown with darker brown line along midrib at base, falcate, scarious, distal 4–5 not sheathing, blade green or yellowish green, with few, subprominent veins, broadly ensiform, slightly falcate, to 1.5 dm × 1–2.5 cm, enlarging to 4 dm after anthesis; cauline 2–3, sheathing, proximal very similar to basal leaves, distal 1 or 2 reduced, herbaceous, blade falcate, not inflated. Inflorescence units 1–2-flowered; spathes green, sharply keeled, somewhat inflated, 2–6 cm, unequal, outer shorter than inner. Flowers: perianth blue, lilac-purple, or white; floral tube filiform, widening distally, 4–8 cm, lifting expanded portion of flower out of spathes; sepals spreading, with 3 parallel, toothed, crested ridges on white signal bordered with purple, tapering gradually into claw, 3–6 × 1.5–2.5 cm, base gradually attenuate, apex rounded, emarginate; petals spreading, same color as sepals, oblanceolate, 3–4 × 1–2 cm; ovary triangular, with shallow groove along each face, 0.6–1 cm; style 1.5 cm, crests narrowly triangular, 6–9 mm; stigmas oblong, margins entire; pedicel 0.7–1.8 cm. Capsules usually enclosed in spathes, oval, sharply triangular, each angle ridged, 1–1.5 cm. Seeds yellowish brown, 3.2–3.5 mm, smooth, with narrow, white appendage wrapped around seed, 3.4–4 mm, quickly drying upon exposure to air. 2n = 24, 32.
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Lvs broadly linear, usually somewhat curved-arching, light green, slightly glaucescent on one side, well developed at anthesis, 1–2 dm × 9–25 mm, later elongating slightly; spathe 1–2-fld, the valves rather loosely sheathing each other, the lower ones often spaced on a scape-like stalk; perianth-tube greenish, often streaked with purple or brown, 4–6 cm, much exceeding the spathe, the limb 6–8 cm wide, light violet to lilac or purple, rarely pale or white; sep with a strong, several-ridged, yellow or whitish crest bordered by a white zone outlined in violet or purple, not at all pubescent; pet spreading, oblanceolate, slightly emarginate or blunt, with broad claw; capsule ellipsoid, ovoid, or obovoid, sharply 3-angled, minutely beaked; seeds orange-brown, arillate; 2n=24, 32. Rich woods, banks, and cliffs, in acid soil; Md. to Okla. and Ga. Apr., May.
A small herb. The plant has leaves 15-20 cm high and flowers 10 cm high. It spreads 8-10 cm wide. It has a rhizome which creeps on the surface of the soil. The leaves are curved and sword shaped. Each leaf is 1-2 cm wide and can be 30-60 cm long. The flowers are flattened and 5 cm wide. They are blue with white and yellow.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention deciduous
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination entomogamy
Spread -
Mature width (meter) 0.5 - 0.3
Mature height (meter) 0.15
Root system rhizome
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

It is a temperate plant. It can grow in shady sites. It needs moist, humus rich soil. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.
More
Rich woods, wooded bottoms and ravines, usually in calcareous soils.
Light 3-8
Soil humidity 3-7
Soil texture 2-4
Soil acidity 3-7
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 3-8

Usage

The root is chewed. It is sweet but turns bitter or burning.
Uses medicinal
Edible roots
Therapeutic use Dermatological Aid (root), Urinary Aid (root), Liver Aid (unspecified)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Parts of the rhizome are planted. They are spaced 30-60 cm apart and 5-10 cm deep. Plants can be grown from seeds.
Mode divisions seedlings
Germination duration (days) 30 - 545
Germination temperacture (C°) 15 - 21
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment stratification
Minimum temperature (C°) -40
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Flower

Iris cristata flower picture by Mary Baker (cc-by-sa)
Iris cristata flower picture by Izzy Chafin (cc-by-sa)
Iris cristata flower picture by Stacie Bailey (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Iris cristata world distribution map, present in Åland Islands, Georgia, Nicaragua, and United States of America

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:438515-1
WFO ID wfo-0000783236
COL ID 3PZLZ
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Iris glumacea Iris odorata Evansia cristata Neubeckia cristata Lophiris cristata Iris cristata var. alba Iris glumacea var. angustifolia Iris cristata