Iris imbricata

Description

Iris imbricata is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the Caucasus mountains, within Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It has broad, sword-like, yellow green or light green leaves, slender stem with branches, inflated and overlapping green spathes, and 2–5 yellow, pale yellow or greenish yellow flowers. It is similar in form to Iris taochia, Iris schachtii and the yellow form of Iris purpureobractea (from Turkey). It is also similar to Iris albertii,but with yellow flowers. It as a stout rhizome, that can form dense clumps of plants. It has deciduous (in winter), erect,ensiform (sword-like), yellow green,or light green, or grey-green leaves. The outer and first leaves, are normally very blunt and rounded. This led to early specimens of the plant were renamed at Kew as Iris obtusifolia, this was later classified as a synonym of 'Iris imbricata'The broad leaves, can grow up to between 30–40 cm (12–16 in) long, and between 2 and 3 cm wide. It has a slender stem or peduncle, that can grow up to between 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall.: 122  They are often branched, with short branches. The stem has oval, or oblong shaped, green, or pale green, inflated, spathes (leaves of the flower bud). They are also tightly imbricated, or overlapping, and transparent, or membranous at the tip of the bract.They look similar in form to translucent green pea pods. The stems (and the branches) hold numerous,between 2 and 5 flowers, in spring or summer, between April and May, May,or between May and June. The large,flowers are 7–10 cm (3–4 in) in diameter, They are larger than Iris flavescens (a synonym of Iris variegata L.), and another yellow flowering iris.They come in shades of yellow, from pale yellow, greenish yellow, (or chartreuse,) to bright yellow, or sulphur yellow. Very rarely, there is a purple form, and also blue forms, were noted by Rodionenko.