Iris tenax

Iris tenax
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Irideae
Genus: Iris
Subgenus: Limniris
Species: I. tenax
Binomial name
Iris tenax
Dougl. ex Lindl.[1]
Iris tenax is growing in the chaparral and riparian of Engels Creek near Thunder Mountain Rd. Glide, Oregon, Douglas County.

Iris tenax is a species of Iris, known by the common names tough-leaved iris, Oregon iris, or more colloquially, Flag

Distribution

It is native to southwestern Washington, western Oregon, and northwestern California. . It occurs along roadsides and in grasslands and forest openings at low to middle elevations. The subspecies Iris tenax ssp. klamathensis is endemic to northern California in the Klamath Mountains.[2][3]

Description

Like many irises, Iris tenax has large and showy flowers. The flowers bloom in mid to late spring and are usually lavender-blue to purple, but blooms in white, yellow, pink, and orchid shades are known to sometimes occur.

The leaves are very slender for an iris, seldom over 5 mm broad; the plant is often mistaken for a type of grass when not in bloom. Its rhizomes spread slowly, causing the plant to grow in a tight clump.

Its species name (tenax) means "tough" or "tenacious" and is in reference to the strong, fibrous leaves of the plant, which were used by indigenous peoples for braiding into snares and other cordage.

References

  1. USDA Plants Profile
  2. Jepson Manual Treatment
  3. "Flags". OSU Libraries. Oregon State University. 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, October 10, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.