Louisiana Iris Gallery 2013
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Species
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I. brevicaulis. Rafinesque, 1817. The shortest of the five Louisiana iris species. A medium blue flower blooming on zig-zag stalks that often do not rise above the foliage. They grow around 18-20 inches high, and the flowers usually bloom down among the often arching blades. Not as spectacular as some of the giants among the Louisianas, but a charming plant and exceedingly important in hybridizing. Also a late bloomer that will extend the season.
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I. fulva. Ker Gawler, 1812. A wild red iris? This is it. Who would have thought there was such a wildflower? But here it is.
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EDITH DUPRE. George Arceneaux, 1945. 27", E. The registration description: "Canary yellow with orange-red overcast; canary yellow style arms; small yellow crest. I. fulva type." A hybrid but apparently between red and yellow collected forms of I. fulva, making it essentially a species form. Great color contrast between the styles and petals. Bazeti X Maringouin fulva (yellow)
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I. giganticaerulea - blue. (Small, 1929). The giant blue of the Central Gulf Coast. Concentrated in Louisiana, but also occurs in Texas and Mississippi. Found in open fresh water marshes and in open wooded swamps. Can grow to six feet under some conditions, but in a garden setting reaches around four feet. Definitely a water lover that produces long rhizomes.
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I. giganticaerulea - rose purple. A collected plant of I. giganticaerulea form found among typical blue giganticaeruleas. It probably is a natural hybrid that shows the red influence of I. fulva, although no fulvas are seen in the immediate area at present. The flower form and height and the habitat in which it was found (a cypress swamp) are typical of giganticaerulea.
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Found Irises |
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Baton Rouge Passalong. This iris resembles I. giganticaerulea but is considerably shorter (32") and much later blooming. It is found in yards all around Baton Rouge and probably elsewhere, but no one knows its precise identity. It closely resembles the East Coast species I. hexagona, which is no longer thought to occur naturally in Louisiana. It has an open species form, is a nice mid blue and a good grower.
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"I. vinicolor." "Vinicolor" was one of many species name once given to collected irises that turned out to be natural hybrids. "I. vinicolor" apparently is a first generation hybrid between red I. fulva and blue I. giganticaerulea. A first generation cross between the two produces a wine colored iris, tall like giganticaerulea but with the clear color influence of fulva. These irises are often found in yards in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and undoubtedly other cities and towns in Louisiana. They are tall and will grow to around four feet in the garden, taller if in water. LIMITED SUPPLY
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