Aristea
capitata
About
90 genera and 1,200 species comprise the Iris Family, which is represented in
temperate and tropical regions around the world; many of the choicest
horticultural plants are included, as irises, gladioli, freesias, and crocuses;
all are perennial, usually with rhizomes, corms, or bulbs.
Herbs, at least the cultivated species, mostly low plants with simple or
branching stems, mostly basal and equitant parallel-veined linear or sword
shaped lvs; fls. showy, bisexual, issuing from a spathe of usually 2 or more
herbaceous or scarious bracts; perianth of 6 parts in 2 series, the outer 3
often petal-like, all generally connate into a tube that is adnate to the ovary;
stamens 3, with extrorse anthers, opposite the outer perianth-segms; pistil 1,
with inferior mostly 3-celled ovary, single style and 3 stigmas which are
sometimes expanded and petal-like or divided, placentation typically axile; fr.
a loculicidal few-to many seeded caps. (Bailey
262).
Upper
Newport Bay species within the family:
Chasmanthe
aethiopica
Iris
pseudacorus
Moraea
iridioides
Sisyrinchium
bellum #