Iris wilsonii

Iris wilsonii is a species in the genus Iris, also the subgenus of Limniris and in the Iris series Sibiricae. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from China. It has long and drooping grey-green leaves, hollow stems and 2 fragrant yellow, pale yellow or yellow/white flowers. Iris wilsonii is known to be more vigorous in growth than Iris forrestii (the other yellow flowering iris) within the sibirica series. It has short, thick rhizomes that creep across the ground to eventually create dense clumps. The rhizomes have the fibrous remains of the leaves from the past year. It has grey-green leaves, that are linear, with 3–5 veins and grass-like in form, they can grow up to between 25–60 cm (10–23.5 in) long and 5–8 mm wide. The veins differentiate Iris wilsonii from Iris forrestii. The leaves can be more or less the same height as the stems but due to their drooping habit, the flowers are seen above the flowers. It has a hollow, unbranched flowering stem that grows up to between 45–70 cm (17.5–27.5 in) long.The stem has 2–3 green, lanceolate (sword-like), spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which measure 6–16 cm long and 8-10mm wide. The spathes surround 2 fragrant flowers, borne in mid-summer, or between May and July. The yellow, pale yellow or yellow/white flowers, are 6–10 cm (2.5–4 in) in diameter.It has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or tepals), known as the 'standards'. The larger falls are obovate, 6-6.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, with purple-brown stripes or veins and spots on the blade (the widest part of the petal). The smaller standards are held at an oblique angle (about 450). They are oblanceolate (in form), 4.5–5 cm long and 7 mm wide. The petals can have edges that are wavy. It has a green perianth tube of 0.5–1.2 cm long, a pedicel (flower stalk stem) of between 3–11 cm (1–4.5 in) long and large, bright yellow or dark yellow style branches measuring 4.5–6 cm long. It has a 3.5 cm long stamen, 1.2–1.8 cm long ovary and white anthers.