keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

692 IRIDACEAE/IRIS
sepals” and “with I. giganticaerulea to produce I. �vinicolor Small” According to Caillet et al.
(2000), hybridization, primarily between I. fulva and I. giganticaerulea Small, has resulted in
the evolution of the stable hybrid I. �nelsonii Randolph, known only from LA. Alternatively,
Arnold (1993) suggested that reticulate evolution (= “hybridization between divergent lineages”)
involving I. fulva, I. hexagona [actually I. giganticaerulea?], and I. brevicaulis was involved
in the origin of I. �nelsonii. These are examples of the extensive influence of hybridization
in the genus. The Sabine Co. collection by Singhurst appears to be the only documented
report of I. fulva from TX (Singhurst et al. 2002b). Although not officially recognized as such
(e.g., TOES 1993; Carr 2002d; Poole et al. 2002), since this species is confirmed from only one
county in the state, we consider it to be of conservation concern in TX. � m/290
Iris germanica L., (German), GARDEN IRIS, GERMAN IRIS, BLUE FLAG. Stems longer than the leaves,
40–100(–120) cm long; perianth bluish violet to white or variously colored in a diversity of cultivated
forms; sepals 40–60 mm wide; petals 45–60 mm wide; sepal beard usually white, yellow,
or brownish; fruits 3-angled. This is the commonly cultivated Iris widely planted in TX; it persists
indefinitely (e.g., at homesite in Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge abandoned for more
than 50 years) and escapes widely; Grayson, Marion, Morris (BRIT), and Dallas (Ed
McWilliams, pers. comm.) cos.; s Canada and widespread in the e U.S. w to MN, KS, and TX, also
CA, UT, and WY. Spring. This species is not known in nature, but it is possibly of hybrid origin;
some researchers suggest European ancestors (Henderson 1992, 2002). Iris germanica is the
most widely cultivated species in the genus, and an incredible variety of colors or color combinations
is known. This species is reported to be toxic (Lampe & McCann 1985). Numerous other
species have been hybridized with I. germanica (including tetraploids)—the name I.
�conglomerata N.C. Hend. has been proposed for these hybrids. � I
Iris pallida Lam., (pale), BLUE FLAG, ORRIS, DALMATIAN IRIS, SWEET IRIS. Stems longer than the
leaves, 40–100(–120) cm long; perianth lilac to violet or blue-violet; sepals 30–50 mm wide; petals
30–50 mm wide; sepal beard conspicuous, usually yellow. Cultivated and escaping; Dallas
Co. (BRIT); also Tarrant Co. (R. O’Kennon, pers. obs.) to the w of East TX; se Canada (Ont.), AR,
CA, GA, IN, LA, MO, TN, and TX. Apr–May. Native of Europe. I
Iris pseudacorus L., (false sweet-flag), YELLOW FLAG, YELLOW IRIS, PALE-YELLOW IRIS, YELLOW
WATER IRIS. Stems 70–150 cm tall; perianth yellow; sepals 20–30(–40) mm wide; petals much
shorter and narrower than sepals, 4–8 mm wide; fruits 3-angled. Commonly cultivated and escaping,
in ponds and lake margins; Polk (BAYLU), Montgomery (ASTC), Gonzales, and Hardin
(Turner et al. 2003) cos.; sparsely scattered in e 1/2 of TX; widespread in much of Canada and
the U.S. Apr–May. Native to Europe and n Africa. This species is reported to be toxic (Lampe &
McCann 1985). It is considered to be a state noxious weed in UT (Kartesz 1999). � � I m/290
Iris virginica L., (of Virginia), VIRGINIA IRIS, SOUTHERN BLUE FLAG, BLUE FLAG. Stems nearly as
long as or longer than the basal leaves, 50–100 cm long; sepals to 40 mm wide, pale blue to lavender-blue
or purple, with darker blue or purple lines, with claw green or yellow-green medially,
bordered by yellow with blue or purple lines, the yellow extending onto base of limb; petals
colored similarly to main part of the sepals, 10–30 mm wide; fruits usually 3-angled.
Lowlands; widespread in the Pineywoods and Post Oak Savannah; also n Gulf Prairies and
Marshes; se Canada (Ont. and Que.) and much of the e U.S. w to MN and TX. Mar–May. [I. shrevei
Small, I. versicolor L. var. shrevei (Small) Boivin, I. virginica var. shrevei (Small) E.S. Anderson]
While TX plants of this species have sometimes been recognized as var. shrevei (e.g., Hatch et al.
1990), we are following Henderson (2002), who studied the species throughout its entire range,
in not formally recognizing varieties. However, Henderson (2002) noted that, “Plants of Iris
virginica from the southeastern and south-central states having stems 2–3-branched and seldom
falling to the ground after flowering, and with capsules long-cylindric have been recognized
as var. shrevei” (Henderson 2002). m/290