Iris prismatica
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photo, Renee Brecht |
Britton & Brown |
| Botanical name: | Iris prismatica |
| Common name: | Slender blue iris |
| Group: | monocot |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Growth type: | forb/herb |
| Duration: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Plant height: | 1 - 3' |
| Foliage: | Slender
blueflag leaves look almost like grass, less than 1/4 inch
wide. May be confused with larger blueflag, which has leaves are a half
to one inch wide. |
| Flower: | irregular blue to purple flowers, 2.5 to 4 inches |
| Flowering time: | Flowers late May to late June; capsules sharply 3-angled, almost winged |
| Habitat: | marshes (fresh, brackish, or salt), shores, or meadows along the coast |
| Range in New Jersey: | occasional
in northern counties, common in the middle and pine barrens districts. |
| Heritage ranking, if any: | n/a |
| Distribution: |  |
| Misc. | USDA
lists as an obligate wetlands species; i.e., occurs almost
always (estimated probability 99%) under natural conditions in wetlands. Iris, Rainbow colored, iridescent; Iris was the Greek goddess of the rainbow; prismatica, like a prism. |