Citation: L stylosa Desf., Fl. Atlant. 1:40 (1798).

Synonymy: Iris stylosa

Common name: Winter flowering iris, Algerian iris.

Description:
Perennial to 45 cm high, with short rhizomes, forming dense clumps; leaves linear, acute, arching, grass-like, 45-60 cm long, 9-15 mm wide, dark-green.

Stem absent or a scape to 8 cm long; flower solitary, subsessile, lavender-violet, often with darker veins, scentless; spathe bracts 2, unequal, linear, keeled, acute, closely sheathing, 8-14 cm long; perianth tube filiform, 10-20 cm long; lobes all with long claws expanded into obovate laminae, the outer ones decurved, 6-7 cm long, 2.5-3 cm wide, the inner ones erect, 7-8 cm long, c. 2 cm wide; style branches spathulate, c. 3 cm long, with lacerate crests.

Capsule obovoid, c. 4 cm long, beakless; seeds globose, c. 5 mm diam., rugose, brown.

Published illustration: Grey-Wilson & Mathew (1981) Bulbs, pl. 28.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: YP, SL.   Native to the Mediterranean region. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: July, Aug.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available