Iris tenax Douglas ex Lindl.

Toughleaf iris (en)

Species

Angiosperms > Asparagales > Iridaceae > Iris

Characteristics

Rhizomes many-branched, not creeping, forming dense clumps, slender, 0.3–0.8 cm diam.; roots fibrous. Stems simple, somewhat angular, solid, 1.5–2.7 dm. Leaves: basal somewhat lax, overtopping stem, blade light green, paling to pink or straw color basally, finely ribbed, linear-acute to linear, ensiform, 4.5 dm × 0.5 cm, margins not thickened; cauline 1–3, sheathing for 1/2 length then spreading, foliaceous, blade linear-lanceolate, not inflated, narrow, reduced, to 15 cm. Inflorescence units 1–2-flowered; spathes distant basally by 3 cm in some cases, keeled, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate-acuminate, 5–7 cm × 2–4 mm, unequal, outer longer than inner, herbaceous, margins scarious. Flowers: perianth color variable, purple, pink, lavender, cream, yellow, or rarely white; floral tube funnelform, 0.6–2 cm; sepals veined with color of limb, obovate, 5.8–6 × 1.6–2 cm, base gradually attenuate into white claw with slight yellow ridge, apex emarginate to bluntly rounded; petals same color as sepals, not prominently veined, lanceolate to oblanceolate, 5 × 1 cm; ovary 1–2 cm, slightly wider distally, base very gradually attenuate; style 2.2–3.2 cm, crests subquadrate, 8–12 mm, margins crenate or incised; stigmas triangular, margins entire; pedicel 1–5 cm, longer in second flower (when present) than in first. Capsules oblong, triangular in cross section, prominently ribbed, beaked, 3–5 cm. Seeds brown, D-shaped to irregular, wrinkled.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention -
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination entomogamy
Spread -
Mature width (meter) 0.6
Mature height (meter) 0.3 - 0.38
Root system fibrous-root rhizome
Rooting depth (meter) 0.3
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

Open prairies, pastures, oak forests, logged land and open areas in coniferous forests, avoiding heavy shade. Dry soils in fields and open woods.
Light 3-5
Soil humidity 2-5
Soil texture 3-5
Soil acidity 4-7
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 5-10

Usage

Uses fiber medicinal
Edible -
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs stratification.
Mode seedlings
Germination duration (days) 30 - 545
Germination temperacture (C°) 16 - 21
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment stratification
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Flower

Iris tenax flower picture by Carson K (cc-by-sa)
Iris tenax flower picture by Michelle Panoncial (cc-by-sa)
Iris tenax flower picture by Wes Buisman (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Iris tenax world distribution map, present in United States of America

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:439169-1
WFO ID wfo-0000783941
COL ID 3Q26G
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Iris tenax Limniris tenax Iris gormanii Joniris tenax Limniris klamathensis Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis Iris tenax var. gormanii