Louisiana iris
| Louisiana iris | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Unnamed Louisiana iris cultivar | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Subfamily: | Iridoideae |
| Tribe: | Irideae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Limniris |
| Section: | Limniris |
| Subsection: | Apogon |
| Series: | I. ser. Hexagonae |
| Species | |
|
Iris brevicaulis |
|
Iris brevicaulis
Iris fulva
Iris giganticaerulea
Iris hexagona
Iris nelsonii
Iris savannarum
Louisiana iris is a taxonomic group (Iris ser. Hexagonae) of five iris species native to Louisiana and surrounding regions of the southeastern United States: Iris fulva, Iris hexagona, Iris brevicaulis, Iris giganticaerulea, and Iris nelsonii.
Each recognized species has noticeable phenotypic and habitat differences, yet similarities between their phenotypes and habitats can be drawn. These similarities are partially a result of their similar phylogenies. Many of the species are closely related, some a result of interbreeding, as in the most recent discovery of the Abbeville Red Iris, Iris nelsonii. The five Louisiana irises are often categorized as "The Reds" or "The Blues" according to their corolla color. "The Blues", species Iris brevicaulis, Iris hexagona, and Iris giganticaerulea, typically have blue-purple corollas, with rare white forms. "The Reds", species Iris fulva and Iris nelsonii, typically have red-orange corollas, with rare yellow forms. Between 1920s and 1930s, Dr. John K. Small extensively studied irises in both Florida and Louisiana and named over 80 new species. Including Iris savannarum, Iris kimballiae, Iris albispiritus and Iris rivularis. Subsequent research has determined that only Iris savannarum is a true species and the others are synonyms of it.
In 1990, the Louisiana iris was voted the state wildflower. The state flower is the magnolia blossom.
The Hexagonae series name is derived from the first Louisiana iris species to inhabit the series, Iris hexagona. The name "Louisiana iris" comes from the naturalist and artist John James Audubon. In the 1821, a Louisiana flag (Iris fulva) was painted by his assistant Joseph Mason, then Audubon added his pair of parula warblers. He then used the term 'Louisiana Flag' to describe the painting.
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