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| Iris |
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The iris genus is quite complex so to simplify the description it might be best to say; that Iris fall into four categories namely Bearded, Beardless, Crested and Bulbous, these are further divided into sub-sections e.g.
Bearded section - (Pogoniris)
The flowers have hairy beards on the falls, the roots are rhizomatous, and they have flat leaves.
They flower from May to June, and grow to a height of approx 600mm(24")
They will grow in most types of soil, and flower best in full sun.
Do not plant deeply to allow the rhizomes to develop at or near the soil surface.
Plant 100mm (4") apart and approximately 50-75mm (2"-3") deep
This group is subdivided as follows;
Arillate group; The rhizomes are stoloniferous and generally grow 25-75mm (1"-3") under the surface of the soil.
Eupogon group; The rhizomes grow on the surface of the soil.
Beardless section - (Apogon)
The flowers are beardless and the falls are smooth the roots are rhizomatous,and the have flat slender leaves.This group is subdivided as follows;;
Californicae (Pacific) group; The foliage is usually evergreen, the rhizomes are generally long and slender with a sparse root system.
Hexagona group; The foliage is usually evergreen, the rhizomes are generally long and slender with a creeping root system. The flower stems tend to zig zag.
Laevigateae group; The foliage is deciduous and the rhizomes are slender. This group can be planted in wet conditins such as shallow water or boggy soil as well as ordinary soil.
Sibiricae group; The foliage is deciduous and the rhizomes are quite short with numerous roots and should be planted 25-50mm (1"-2") under the surface of the soil.
Spuria group; The foliage is evergreen and the rhizomes are fibrous and grown 25-75mm (1"-3") under the surface of the soil.
Crested section; The flowers have fleshy crests on the falls instead of beards, the rhizomes are slender and grow on or just below the soil. The leaves are flat, broad and glossy.
Bulbous section;
Juno group; The bulbs are small with fat storage roots attached to the base, and the leaves have a channelled cross section. The flowers are produced in the leaf axils.
Reticulata group; The bulbs are small and are covered with a netted husk,the leaves are tubular and multi sided.
Xiphium group; The bulbs are medium sized and covered with a smooth husk,the leaves have a channelled cross-section and are generally few in number.
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