| Iris subg. Xiphium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Close-up image of Iris xiphium | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Iris subg. Xiphium (Miller) Spach |
| Type species | |
| Iris xiphium | |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Subgenus Xiphium is a subgenus of Iris. If considered a separate genus from Iris, it is known as genus Xiphion.
The Latin specific epithet Xiphium refers to the Greek word for sword xiphos.[1]
All species in this subgenus are true bulbs, and are native to southwest Europe (southern Spain, Portugal and southern France) and northern Africa.[2]
Mainly known for the garden cultivars known as Dutch Iris, Spanish Iris and English Iris. They generally flower between early to mid-summer and each stem produces between 1 - 3 flowers. Most bulbs should be planted in late autumn, 10 cm deep and between 5–10 cm apart.[3]
Section Xiphium
| Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
 | Iris boissieri Henriq 1885 | Spain and Portugal |
 | Iris filifolia Boiss. 1842 | Morocco, Spain |
| Iris juncea Poir. 1789 | Algeria, Tunisia Spain, Sicily | |
.jpg) | Iris latifolia Mill. 1895 – English iris | France, Spain |
| Iris rutherfordii M Rodriguez,P Vargas,M Carine and S Jury 2009 | Morocco | |
| Iris serotina Willk. in Willk. & Lange 1861 | Spain and Morocco. | |
| Iris tingitana Boiss. & Reut. 1852 – Morocco iris | Morocco, Algeria, Spain, Portugal. | |
.jpg) | Iris xiphium L. 1753 | Corsica, France, Italy, Algeria and Tunisia |
Horticultural hybrids
- Iris × hollandica (Spanish iris, Dutch iris)
References
- ↑ Stearn, William (1972). A Gardenerer's Dictionary of Plant Names. London: Cassell. p. 334. ISBN 0304937215.
- ↑ Joyce, David. The Garden Plant Selector.
- ↑ Cassidy, G.E.; Linnegar, S. (1987). Growing Irises (Revised ed.). Bromley: Christopher Helm. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-88192-089-4.