Iris douglasiana

Iris douglasiana, the Douglas iris, is a common wildflower of the coastal regions of Northern and Central California and southern Oregon in the United States.[2] It grows mainly at lower elevations, below 100 meters (330 ft), though it is occasionally found at heights of up to 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). It is most common in grasslands near the coast.

Douglas iris

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Iris subg. Limniris
Section: Iris sect. Limniris
Series: Iris ser. Californicae
Species:
I. douglasiana
Binomial name
Iris douglasiana
Synonyms[1]
  • Iris beecheyana Herb.
  • Iris douglasiana f. alpha (Dykes) R.C.Foster
  • Iris douglasiana var. alpha Dykes
  • Iris douglasiana var. altissima Purdy ex Jeps.
  • Iris douglasiana var. beecheyana (Herb.) Baker
  • Iris douglasiana var. bracteata Herb.
  • Iris douglasiana var. major Torr.
  • Iris douglasiana var. mendocinensis Eastw.
  • Iris douglasiana var. nuda Herb.
  • Iris douglasiana var. oregonensis R.C.Foster
  • Iris watsoniana Purdy
  • Limniris douglasiana (Herb.) Rodion.
Close-up of flower

Consumption may cause severe discomfort.[3]

This is a typical beardless iris of subgenus Limniris, series Californicae, growing from a rhizome that is typically less than a centimeter in diameter. Its leaves are about 2 centimeters (0.79 in) wide. The flowers, appearing from April to June, are usually a purplish-blue, though occasionally white or yellow flowers are found. Two or three flowers are found on each stem, which is of variable height, ranging from 15–80 centimeters (5.9–31.5 in) tall.

Taxonomy

It was first described by 19th century botanist David Douglas in Monterey, California.

It was first published by the british botanist William Herbert in 'Bot. Beechey Voy.' 9 on page 395 in 1840.[1]

Several varieties have been recognized, for example Iris douglasiana var. altissima (Jeps.) and Iris douglasiana var. oregonensis (R. C. Foster), but the species is highly variable and the varieties may not be well enough defined to be of much practical use. The Douglas iris hybridizes freely with several other species; its natural hybrid with I. innominata has been designated as Iris ×thompsonii (R. C. Foster), and the garden hybrid with the same species as Iris ×aureonympha (E. H. English).

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]

References
  1. "Iris douglasiana Herb. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  2. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Iris douglasiana". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  3. "Iris douglasiana". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
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