The Iris Family
What are they?
Members of the Iris family can be found pretty much worldwide, but the group is not particularly prevalent in North America. Most species have grass-like leaves and are similar to the members of the lily family in many ways.
Where are they found?
The species of iris found in Cape May County are typically species of wetlands. Blue-eyed-grasses can be difficult to identify to species, but habitat can help, with some species found in marshes and swamps and others found in drier, sandy areas.
Identification
Irises are easily told apart when in flower; blue-eyed-grasses can be difficult as flower color is very variable. Pay particular attention to stem structure and to the green part of the flowering head.
Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed-grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium
In a wide range of habitats, but generally wet areas, either shady or sunny. Flowers mostly May to June. Winged stems more than 2mm wide.
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as flower spikes |
leaf-like |
Eastern Blue-eyed-grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
Uncommon and found locally in damp grassland and wetland edges. Flowers May to June. Differs from the much commoner Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed-grass by the much narrower stems which are typical less than 2mm wide.
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Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus
Introduced from Europe and found occasionally in wetland habitats. Flowers late May to June. Can be told from yellow forms of Bearded Iris by the greener (not blue-green) leaves which are not as stiff as those of Bearded Iris.
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Bearded Iris Iris germanica
(German Iris) Introduced from Europe as a garden plant and occasionally found as a garden throw-out on roadsides and in waste places. Flowers May to June, sometimes later. Flowers of garden cultivars come in an amazing array of colors from white through pink to deep maroon, purple, blue and yellow and many are bicolored.
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Large Blue Flag Iris versicolor
Common in swamps, marshes and clearings in wet woodland. Flowers late May to July.
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resemble Slender Blue Flag |
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Slender Blue Flag Iris prismatica
Ucnommon in swamps and marshy spots. Flowers June to July. Leaves much narrower than those of Large Blue Flag.
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Early Crocus Crocus tommasinianus
(Woodland Crocus) Introduced from Europe. Occasionally found in grassy areas in urban or suburban environments. Flowers March. The amount of purplish-blue in the flowers varies a little and there are a few named varieties, but the lower petal tube is always white. Petals narrower than other commonly-grown crocus species. Spreads readily once established and is capable of forming large colonies in lawns.
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Spring Crocus Crocus vernus
(Dutch Crocus) Introduced from Europe. Occasionally found in grassy areas in urban or suburban environments. Flowers March to April. The true species is purple but there are many cultivated varieties in white, yellow or various shades of purple, sometimes striped on the outside. Despite this variety the petal tube is almost always darker than the rest of the petals, even in white forms. Petals relatively broad and overlapping. Spreads readily once established and is capable of forming large colonies in lawns. Compare leaf-tip with Common Star-of-Bethlehem in the Lily family.
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| in various colors |
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