Lined iris

Description

Iris lineata is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris, and in the section Regelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the mountains of Turkestan, between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It has tall slender stems, long leaves and greenish yellow flowers covered, with brown violet, or brown purple veining over the top. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It is very similar in form toIris darwasica. It has a small, short rhizome, which is less than 2 cm long. It is covered (on the top) with the fibrous remains of last seasons leaves. It has secondary roots, short stolons. It has erect, linear, leaves that are 6–40 cm (2–16 in) long and 0.3–0.6 cm wide. They disappear after the blooming period, and begin to re-grow the next season in January. It has an erect stem, that can grow up to between 15–35 cm (6–14 in) tall. The stem has acuminate (pointed), membranous, spathes or bracts, (leaves of the flower bud), which are 5.5 cm (2 in) long, with pale margins. The upper third of the spathe is flushed purple. The stems hold between 2 and 3 terminal (top of stem) flowers, blooming in spring, between April and May. The long and thin, flowers are 5–6 cm (2–2 in) in diameter.They are greenish yellow, with brown violet, or brown purple veining over the top. It has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or tepals), known as the 'standards'.The elliptic to oblanceolate falls are 4.5 cm (2 in) long,and 1.3 cm wide, with a long blue beard, in the centre of the fall. The elliptic to oblanceolate standards are 4.5 cm (2 in) long, they also have a thin beard. It has short pedicels and a 2.5–4 cm (1–2 in) long perianth tube. It has pale blue style branches, that are 2.5–3 cm (1–1 in) long, purple brown lobes, anthers that are 1.4–1.7 cm long, filaments that are 1–1.2 cm long and yellow pollen. After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule and seed, which have not been described.