Iris xiphium - Spanish Iris - (Iridaceae)

Iris xiphium

The Spanish Iris on the edge of open woodland in the Algarve.

A common iris in the Iberian Peninsula but nonetheless beautiful for all that, this plant occurs in grassy places such as the open woodland area shown above but also in sandy and rocky ground and sand dunes. It flowers from April to May and is a member of the Iris family (Iridaceae).

There are yellow forms of this iris occuring in Portugal, where it is called Iris lusitanica, and both forms are encouraged in gardens and for use in floristry.

This specimen was photographed in the Algarve in Portugal in May.