Synonym(s): Iris cristata var. alba, Neubeckia cristata Cultivar(s): Carolina Blue
Image ID: 12959
Image by: Cressler, Alan M.
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library
PLANT INDEX
ID_PLANT: IRCR
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Iris cristata
Include in WOTAS: 1
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2018-09-17
GENUS CODE: IRIS GENUS SCIENTIFIC:Iris GENUS AUTHORITY: L. GENUS COMMON: Iris GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 225 species, herbs, of Eurasia, n. Africa, and North America. Wilson (2004) suggests that Belamcanda is phylogenetically nested within Iris and should be included there; Goldblatt & Mabberley (2005) make the appropriate nomenclatural combination. Alternatively, Iris may be broken up into multiple genera (Mavrodiev et al. 2014; Crespo, Martínez-Azorín, & Mavrodiev 2015). GENUS IDENTIFICATION: Identification notes: the petals are usually erect, smaller than the petaloid sepals (which are brightly colored, generally reflexed, and marked with a signal). The styles are also petaloid, arched over the sepals, and 2-cleft at the tip (except in I. domestica). GENUS REFERENCES: Crespo, Martínez-Azorín, & Mavrodiev (2015); Henderson in FNA (2002a); Goldblatt in FNA (2002a); Mavrodiev et al. (2014); Goldblatt & Mabberley (2005)=Z; Wilson (2004); Goldblatt, Manning, & Rudall in Kubitzki (1998a). Key based on Henderson in FNA (2002a).
FAMILY INDEX
FAMILY CODE: IRIDAC FAMILY SCIENTIFIC:Iridaceae FAMILY AUTHORITY: A.L. de Jussieu 1789 FAMILY COMMON: Iris Family FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 65-82 genera and 1700-1810 species, herbs, of cosmopolitan distribution (most diverse in s. Africa). FAMILY REFERENCE: Goldblatt in FNA (2002a); Goldblatt, Manning, & Rudall in Kubitzki (1998a).
NCBG DESCRIPTIVES
INTRO: Low-growing, rhizomatous and colonial perennial of moist (and less often, dry) forests, rich woods, road banks and stream banks. STEMS: Stems consist of branching, horizontal rhizomes at soil surface; a short flowering stalk, with leaves clustered at the base, arises from rhizome. LEAVES: Leaves overlapping and clustered at base of flowering stalk,linear to lance-shaped, to 6 in. long and 1 in. wide, arching, smooth. INFLORESCENCE: FLOWERS: Flowers typically solitary (occasionally 2) at top of stalk; pale blue to purplish; to 5 in. wide; consisting of 3 spreading, ornate, petal-like sepals and 3 smaller, spreading petals; sepals are marked with a white or yellow patch outlined in purple and a toothed, yellow ridge. FRUITS: COMMENTS: HEIGHT: 4-6 in. DURATION:
Perennial
HABIT:
Herb
LEAF ARRANGEMENT:
Basal LEAF COMPLEXITY:
Simple LEAF RETENTION: FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
Radial (Actinomorphic)
BLOOM TIME: April-May
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
x
x
x
x
BLOOM COLOR: Light blue flowers
White
Red
Pink
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Lavender
Purple
Violet
Brown
Not Applicable
x
x
x
FRUITING PERIOD: Jun-Jul. DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE: Bottomlands, Disturbed, Dry forests, Moist forests
NATIVE RANGE: eastern United States HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: Ethereal flowers open over a two-week period. Dwarf crested iris is an attractive groundcover spring through fall. In the wild, this perennial is seen on wooded slopes, bluffs and ravines. Its native range includes areas from Maryland south to Georgia. Dwarf crested iris is an excellent choice for the rock garden, the foreground of a perennial border, or the woodland garden. This species is drought-tolerant once it has become established. It prefers slopes with partial sun. The Iris genus supports up to 12 lepidoptera species.
USDA Symbol: IRCR
USDA Common Name: Dwarf Crested Iris
Native Status: L48 (N)
Distribution: USA (AL, AR, DC, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Forb/herb
WEAKLEY FLORA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Iris cristata
COMMON NAME: Dwarf Crested Iris
SYNONYMY: [= C, F, FNA, G, K, Pa, RAB, Tn, Va, W, WV; = Neubeckia cristata (Aiton) Alefani - S; = Lophiris cristata (Aiton) M.B. Crespo, Martínez-Azorín, & Mavrodiev - Y]
PHENOLOGY: Apr-May; Jun-Jul.
HABITAT: Moist forests, rich woods, roadbanks, streambanks.
COMMENTS: MD west to IN and MO, south to NC, AL, MS, AR, and e. OK.
RANGE MAP: Iris cristata.png
Key to Map SymbolsABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora) Iridaceae A.L. de Jussieu 1789 (Iris Family) SUMMARY: A family of about 65-82 genera and 1700-1810 species, herbs, of cosmopolitan distribution (most diverse in s. Africa). REFERENCE: Goldblatt in FNA (2002a); Goldblatt, Manning, & Rudall in Kubitzki (1998a).ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora) Iris L. (Iris) SUMMARY: A genus of about 225 species, herbs, of Eurasia, n. Africa, and North America. Wilson (2004) suggests that Belamcanda is phylogenetically nested within Iris and should be included there; Goldblatt & Mabberley (2005) make the appropriate nomenclatural combination. Alternatively, Iris may be broken up into multiple genera (Mavrodiev et al. 2014; Crespo, Martínez-Azorín, & Mavrodiev 2015). REFERENCE: Crespo, Martínez-Azorín, & Mavrodiev (2015); Henderson in FNA (2002a); Goldblatt in FNA (2002a); Mavrodiev et al. (2014); Goldblatt & Mabberley (2005)=Z; Wilson (2004); Goldblatt, Manning, & Rudall in Kubitzki (1998a). Key based on Henderson in FNA (2002a).
HERBARIUM RESOURCES
SERNEC: Find Iris cristata in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available) UNC SERNEC: Find Iris cristata in
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)