Rocky Mountain Iris (Iris missouriensis)

Rocky Mountain Iris (Iris missouriensis)

Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) is a common flower of meadows in much of the western U.S. This photo was taken near Helmer, Idaho.
mrh
on Jun 30, 2006 1:23 am
Image ID: 203940

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mrh

mrh - Oct 13, 2006 4:08 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Eye on the Iris

Thanks for the vote and comment. No Iris' and Larkspurs are not closely related. Larkspurs are in the Buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. I know they don't look like a buttercup at all, but floral classification is based on the number and arrangement of floral parts. Larkspurs and buttercups have similarly arranged numbers and placement of structures, but they are presented very differently. Other flowers in the buttercup family include monkshood, anemone, columbine, marshmarigold, clematis, and meadowrue among others so you can see its a fairly diverse group. The vegetative features of the family are probably more consistent than the general flower appearance.

The Iris is in the family Iridaceae. In the northwest that only includes the Iris and Sisyrinchium or grass widows.

Plants in Iridaceae are monocots, while Ranunculaceae would be dicots so they are quite separated.

mrh

mrh - Oct 13, 2006 8:53 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Eye on the Iris

Take a systematic botany course, I'm assuming your school probably has one. It will change what you see in the outdoors forever.

justahiker

justahiker - Oct 13, 2006 6:20 am - Voted 10/10

Beautiful!!

Really georgeous flower!!

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