Re: I. graminea's height

 

My Iris graminea does have a heady fragrance. It does smell like plums I guess but I never categorized it as I do in Iris pallida which smells like grapes. In any case, my graminea fragrance is very pleasant. I always cut some of its prolific blooms and have them in the house.
 
I got this I. graminea from a very reputable iris grower in New England about eight years ago. They are well known in AIS circles and trust it to be Iris graminea until proven wrong.  I know it is taller than expected but so are many other things I grow here in this acid, rich mountain soil.
 
I did look at Mathew's book tonight and I feel pretty strongly that I do have Iris graminea - everything fits except for the height...mine being taller. Although, Mathew does have a broad range from 20 - 40 cm which indicates (to me) that there is a wider variation in this plant. I will attempt to take a photo tomorrow if the rain stops and get a better angle of the foliage. 
 
Mathew's description of the bracts sounds like my specimen. The leaves are not exceptionally thick I don't think. The picture I sent was in my files from 2007 and I had enlarged the  photo to allow a better look at the blooms. That may be why Will commented on the width of the leaves.
 
Ellen Gallagher
Berlin, NH
USDA Zone 3 where we am just coming into peak iris season with cold, rainy days and nights which prolongs the bloom :-)
 
 
 
 
 
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From: David Nicholson <d.avensis@virgin.net>
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, June 14, 2010 2:04:28 PM
Subject: Re: [iris-species] I. graminea's height

 

Ellen Gallagher wrote:-

> Someone asked me off-line the height ofIris gramineaand was it a 'dwarf'
> height? No...as far as the foliage goes....I just measured the foliage and
> it is 27". But the species' bloom presents as dwarf size (can't measure
> it since is past its early bloom). The dainty and, I think, lovely flower
> blooms about 2/3 down in the tall foliage. It catches the eye because of
> its vibrant color and unusual presentation.<

The flower should have a smell of plums, or perhaps greengages, too. Mathew
gives the height of Iris graminea as 20-40cm. I. graminea var. pseudocyperus
is a larger plant with unscented flowers.

David Nicholson
in Devon, UK. Zone 9b

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