Iris tectorum

Iris tectorum Maxim., Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint- Petersbourg ser. 3, 15: 380. 1870; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 24: 308.

Perennial evergreen herb; rhizome creeping. Leaves mainly in basal fans, yellowish green, broadly ensiform, curved, 15-20 cm x 1.5-2.5 cm. Flowering stems not developed. Spathes 2 or 3, green, lanceolate, 1 or 2-flowered, apex acuminate. Flowers bluish violet, ca. 7-10 cm in diameter, pedicel up to 1 cm long. Tepals 6, connate at base to form slender ca. 3 cm long and slender perianth tube. Perianth segments differentiated into upper broad lamina and lower narrow claw, dimorphic: outer 3 FALLS, broadly ovate, 5-7 cm x ca. 4 cm, margin wavy, apex obtuse, mottled darker around conspicuous, white, irregularly toothed crest, claw ca. 1/2 of length of FALL, oblong, with violet-brownish streaks and margin toothed; inner 3 STANDARDS, lamina spreading horizontally, broadly oblong to ovate with wavy margin, 4-5 cm x ca. 3 cm, claw less developed, narrow. Style branches flat, pale bluish-violet, ca. 3.5 cm long, 2-lobed at apex with irregular teeth.

Fruit not observed.

Flowering and Fruiting: March to AprilCommon Names: Roof Iris, Wall Iris, Japanese Roof Iris