Roof iris

Description

Iris tectorum (also known as roof iris, Japanese roof iris and wall iris) is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Limniris. It is a rhizomatous perennial. It is native of China, Korea and Burma, with lavender-blue, bluish-violet, purple-blue, blue-lilac or sky blue flowers. There is a white form as well. It is a compact plant and is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions of the world. It has a thick, (the size of a man's thumb), creeping, buff (coloured), or greenish rhizome. They are similar in form to a bearded iris rhizome. It has slender, short roots (under the rhizomes), and fibres on the top. The creeping habit, creates spreading clumps of plants. It does not produce stolons. It has basal fans, that are yellowish green, or pale green, and sword-shaped (ensiform), or lance-shaped. They are also, glossy, and ribbed, and can grow up to between 15–60 cm (6–24 in) long and 1.5–5 cm (1–2 in) wide. The leaves are floppy, and described as semi-evergreen. It has terete (cylindrical), stems that can grow up to between 20–45 cm (8–18 in) tall. It has 1–2 branches, and 1–2 (reduced) stem leaves. The stems have 2–3 spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that are green, lanceolate and 3.5–7.5 cm (1–3 in) long and 2–2.5 cm (1–1 in) wide. It has a 1 cm long pedicel (flower stalk), which is shorter than the spathe, but similar in size to the ovary. It is native to temperate and tropical regions of Asia. It is found in (central and south western), China, within the Chinese provinces, of Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan and Zhejiang. Also found in Korea, and within (the tropical region) of Myanmar (Burma). It is often cited as native to Japan, but it may just be naturalized. It has naturalized in Bhutan and India. It has also naturalized in regions of America, including New Hampshire. It grows on forest margins, on sunny banks, in meadows, in damp places and beside water. It can also be found growing along roadsides and on steep hillsides, in China. They can be found at an altitude of 500–3,500 m (1,600–11,500 ft) above sea level. In New Hampshire, as a wild flower, it is found on the edges of lawns and fields, beside roadsides and in compost heaps.