Fernald's Iris

Iris fernaldii hybridizes with I. douglasiana, I. innominata, and I. macrosiphon.

Rhizomes many-branched, producing dense clumps, compact, slender, ca. 0.6 cm diam., base covered with remains of old leaves; roots fibrous. Stems simple, solid, 2–4 dm. Leaves: basal with blade gray-green, usually brilliantly colored basally, drying to unusual gray-green, veins fairly prominent, to 4 dm × 0.7–0.8 cm, often quite glaucous, margins not thickened; cauline 2–several, spreading, sheathing stem for about 1/2 length, foliaceous, blade not inflated. Inflorescence units 2-flowered; spathes opposite, connivent, often flushed red basally, broadly lanceolate, 5–9 cm × 6–11 mm, subequal. Flowers: perianth pale creamy yellow with gold or gray veins; floral tube funnelform, 3–6.2 cm, spreading apically to form wide throat; sepals horizontally spreading, claw with deep yellow median line, oblanceolate to spatulate, 4.5–7 × 1–2 cm, base gradually attenuate into broad claw; petals narrowly oblanceolate, 4.3–6 × 0.6–1.4 cm, base gradually attenuate into narrow claw; ovary elliptical, nearly circular in cross section, 1.5–2.3 cm; style 2.2–3 cm, crests divergent, linear to narrowly oblong, 1–1.7 cm; stigmas triangular, margins entire; pedicel 0.9–2.2 cm at anthesis. Capsules oblong, roundly trigonal, distinctly beaked, 2.5–3.5 cm. Seeds dark brown, wrinkled. 2n = 40.

Flowering Apr--Jul. Mixed evergreen forest; Calif.

Iris fernaldii, commonly known as Fernald's iris, is a species of iris endemic to western Northern California. It is native to the Inner and Outer North California Coast Ranges, such as the Santa Cruz Mountains, and surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area. It is found between 164–6,562 feet (50–2,000 m) in elevation. It grows in full sun near the coast, and afternoon shade inland.

Fernald's are no longer found in pure form in Marin County, however; they have naturally hybridized with Douglas iris in this area.