SummitPost - Rocky Mountain Iris (Iris missouriensis) -- Photos, Diagrams & Topos

Rocky Mountain Iris (Iris missouriensis)

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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.

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OlympicMtnBoy

Eye on the Iris

Voted 10/10

Iris's are among my favorites. When I was up in Alaska a year ago I saw some gorgeous ones. Are Larkspur closely related to Iris's by any chance? Great shot!

Posted Oct 13, 2006 1:22 am


	mrh	Re: Eye on the Iris
	Hasn't voted	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.
		Posted Oct 13, 2006 4:08 pm


	OlympicMtnBoy	Re: Eye on the Iris
	Voted 10/10	Wow! Thanks for all that great info! I can tell you definitely know your flowers. I love wildflowers, and have wanted to learn more about the different families. I had no idea that Larkspurs and Buttercups were that similar. We've been studying about monocots and dicots in Biology. Still trying to figure it all out:)
		Posted Oct 13, 2006 8:45 pm


	mrh	Re: Eye on the Iris
	Hasn't voted	Take a systematic botany course, I'm assuming your school probably has one. It will change what you see in the outdoors forever.
		Posted Oct 13, 2006 8:53 pm