Iris serotina is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Xiphium. It is a bulbous perennial from southern Europe, found in Spain and Morocco.
Iris serotina grows to a maximum height of 60cm (20inches) tall and the narrow leaves are 2–6 mm wide and grow between 30cm-60cmcm (10inches-20inchescm) tall. They appear in the autumn,[1] [2] but then fade before flowering.
It normally has 2 - 3 flowers per stem, and generally blooms in late July, or August.
Like other irises, 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'.[3] It has blue-violet flowers,[2] the petals are veined with a deeper violet colour, and the falls are marked with a yellow patch.[2] [3] Its seeds are small, yellow and semi-circular.[4]
The specific epithet serotina, refers to the Latin word, 'serotina' meaning late in flowering.[5] [6]
In 1861, Heinrich Moritz Willkomm described Iris serotina after seeing plants from Province of Jaén (Spain).[7] Originally, he called it Iris filifolia, but this was later corrected to Iris serotina.[8] Then published in 'Prodromus Florae Hispanicae' Vol.1 in 1861.[9] [10] It was later illustrated in Curtis's Botanical Magazine No.733 in 1977.[11]
Iris serotina is an accepted name by the RHS,[12] and it was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003, then updated on 3 December 2004.
Iris serotina is native to temperate areas of Europe.[12]
Originally found in South eastern Spain.[3] It has been found in Cuenca, Jaen and in the Province of Granada. It also has been found in Rif in Morocco.[7] [13]
It grows on rocks, on the shadow side of the mountains.[2]
It is classed as 'Endangered',[2] and was on the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants in Spain.[14]
It is best grown in a bulb frame or a very sheltered dry border, in the UK.[15]
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[16]