Iridaceae

The flowers of Crocus rujanensis

Crocus rujanensis

Published by Daniel Mosquin on January 23, 2019

Scientifically described in 1990, Crocus rujanensis is native to southern Serbia and adjacent Macedonia in oak-hornbeam forests, mixed Hungarian-Turkey oakwoods, Dianthus meadows, degraded shrublands, and grasslands.

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Flowers of Hesperantha coccinea

Hesperantha coccinea

Published by Daniel Mosquin on November 2, 2018

Scarlet river lily and crimson flag lily are two of the many common names used for Hesperantha coccinea. This species was previously featured on Botany Photo of the Day in 2006: Hesperantha coccinea.

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The flower of Iris japonica

Iris japonica

Published by Daniel Mosquin on October 5, 2018

Aptly named “butterfly flower” in Chinese for its appearance, Iris japonica is native to Japan, Myanmar (Burma) and China. Other common names for this species include fringed iris and shaga.

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Flower of Sisyrinchium littorale

Sisyrinchium littorale

Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 5, 2018

A relative of irises, Sisyrinchium is composed of about 80 species primarily (and perhaps exclusively) native to the Americas and Hawaii. The Flora of North America entry for Sisyrinchium explains the name as follows: [Greek] sys, pig, and rynchos, snout, alluding to swine grubbing the roots for food.

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Patterns in the flower of Tigridia pavonia

Tigridia pavonia

Published by Daniel Mosquin on June 13, 2018

Peacock flower or Mexican shellflower is native to México, Guatamemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. It has also escaped cultivation as an ornamental plant, and naturalized in parts of central America and South America.

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A top-down view of Iris variegata

Iris variegata

Published by Daniel Mosquin on October 3, 2017

The true Iris variegata, or Hungarian iris, is named for the variegated patterns on the flowers. However, variegated-leaf cultivars of other species exist (e.g., Iris pallida ‘Variegata’. Tempering one’s expectations is warranted when purchasing an “iris variegata” from a nursery due to confusion, in particular if one is buying rhizomes.

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Irises in bloom in Nitobe Memorial Garden

Nitobe Memorial Garden

Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 6, 2017

This is an after-hours photograph from a couple evenings ago in Nitobe Memorial Garden. The Japanese irises (kakitsubata) have only recently started blooming, so visitors in the next week or two should be able to enjoy the display.

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