Iris Missouriensis

Iris missouriensis Nutt.

by Laura Soito, Native Plants Class 2003
Common names: Rocky Mountain Iris, Western Blue Flag
Family: Iridaceae
Synonymy: Iris longipetala, Iris pariensis, Iris tolmieana
Etymology: Irises are named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow because of their beautiful, colorful flowers and sweet smell (1).

Identification
Growth form: Herbaceous plant often found growing in large clumps (Lewis and Clark).
Roots: Rhizome, 2-3 cm in diameter (FNA?).
Stem: Up to 60 cm tall with a few reduced leaves (4).
Leaves: Pale green, triangular leaves
Inflorescence/flowers: Light blue or lavender to white flowers. Veins are darker purple.
Fruit: The seed capsule is ellipsoidal, 1.75 cm wide and 4-5 cm, long with 6 ribs formed by 3 carpals. Seeds are round with wrinkled skins.
Similar species:

Ecology
Life history: Perennial
Native/introduced: Native to western North America, but is considered noxious in meadows and other land used for grazing.
Photosynthetic pathway: C3
Phenology: Flowers from May to July (2).
Distribution: Found in western North America from North Dakota and New Mexico west to the Pacific Ocean and from Canada to northern Mexico. Often found in seasonally wet areas, such as, meadows, highway medians, ditches and stream sides at elevations of 0-3,000m (2). It is found in western Arizona from Coconino county east to New Mexico and south to Cochise county at elevations of 6,000-9,500 ft(AZF).

Uses
Roots used by Western Native Americans to treat toothaches (4). May have been used as green dye by Navajos. Contains cytotoxins.

References
1. Burrows, G. E. and R. J. Tyrl. 2001. Toxic plants of North America. Iowa State University. Ames, IA. pp. 720-724

2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 7+ vols. New York and Oxford.

3. Moerman, D. 2003. A database of foods, drugs, dyes, and fibers of Native American peoples, derived from plants, [On-line]. Available: http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ [11/9/2003]

4. The species group of the British Iris Society. 1997. A guide to the species Irises: their identification and cultivation. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. pp. 3, 158, 159

5. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Iris missouriensis Nutt. by Laura Soito, Native Plants Class 2003 Common names: Rocky Mountain Iris, Western Blue Flag Family: Iridaceae Synonymy: Iris longipetala, Iris pariensis, Iris tolmieana Etymology: Irises are named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow because of their beautiful, colorful flowers and sweet smell (1). Identification Growth form: Herbaceous plant often found growing in large clumps (Lewis and Clark). Roots: Rhizome, 2-3 cm in diameter (FNA?). Stem: Up to 60 cm tall with a few reduced leaves (4). Leaves: Pale green, triangular leaves Inflorescence/flowers: Light blue or lavender to white flowers. Veins are darker purple. Fruit: The seed capsule is ellipsoidal, 1.75 cm wide and 4-5 cm, long with 6 ribs formed by 3 carpals. Seeds are round with wrinkled skins. Similar species: Ecology Life history: Perennial Native/introduced: Native to western North America, but is considered noxious in meadows and other land used for grazing. Photosynthetic pathway: C3 Phenology: Flowers from May to July (2). Distribution: Found in western North America from North Dakota and New Mexico west to the Pacific Ocean and from Canada to northern Mexico. Often found in seasonally wet areas, such as, meadows, highway medians, ditches and stream sides at elevations of 0-3,000m (2). It is found in western Arizona from Coconino county east to New Mexico and south to Cochise county at elevations of 6,000-9,500 ft(AZF). Uses Roots used by Western Native Americans to treat toothaches (4). May have been used as green dye by Navajos. Contains cytotoxins. References 1. Burrows, G. E. and R. J. Tyrl. 2001. Toxic plants of North America. Iowa State University. Ames, IA. pp. 720-724 2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 7+ vols. New York and Oxford. 3. Moerman, D. 2003. A database of foods, drugs, dyes, and fibers of Native American peoples, derived from plants, [On-line]. Available: http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ [11/9/2003] 4. The species group of the British Iris Society. 1997. A guide to the species Irises: their identification and cultivation. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. pp. 3, 158, 159 5. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.