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. |