YELLOW IRIS

YELLOW FLAG

Iris Pseudacorus

Iris Family [Iridaceae]  

month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8Aug

flower
flower8yellow
 
morph
morph8actino
 
petals
petalsZ3
3+3+'3'
stem
stem8round
 
toxicity
toxicityZlowish
 

30th May 2007, Lancaster Canal, Galgate, Lancashire. Photo: © RWD


21st May 2007, Macclesfield Canal, Bosley. Photo: © RWD


30th May 2007, Lancaster Canal, Galgate, Photo: © RWD


30th May 2007, Lancaster Canal, Galgate, Photo: © RWD
Showing the outer petals which hang down and inner petals.


2nd May 2007, Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Aintree. Photo: © RWD
The outer parts of the flower have reddish lines marked upon them.


8th June 2005, River Chee, Chee Dale, Derbyshire. Photo: © RWD
The outer petals are heavily veined in red.


Sometimes the outer petals lack reddish streaks. Photo: © RWD


Photo: © RWD
Plan view of flower.


6th Sept 2005, Leeds &Liverpool Canal, Tarleton. Photo: © RWD
Large 3-sided green seed pods replace the flowers. \they contain many brown seeds which float on water to germinate in the vicinity.


6th Sept 2005, Leeds &Liverpool Canal, Tarleton. Photo: © RWD


The long stiff, broad sword-shaped leaves have parallel veins and are finely ridged. Photo: © RWD


Some similarities to : Daffodils, but daffodils don't grow in water or have three large petals flopping down.

Uniquely identifiable characteristics: There is no other plant quite like this.

Distinguishing Feature : The large yellow petals in triplets at 120 degrees. Always grows in water.

Like many aquatic plants, this too has petals in three's.

The poisonous cardiac glycoside Iridin (aka Irisin) is found in the leaves and rhizomes of Yellow Iris. If ingested symptoms include nausea, elevated temperature, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe purgation can result. It is dangerous to animals. Most irises contain this substance. It is also found in the roots of the Violet Family.

Yellow Iris spreads underwater by thick rhizomes in anoxic conditions, and is able to withstand quite acidic conditions (low pH). It is selectively absorbs heavy metals and has been used to help clean up heavy metal pollution, provided that pollution occurs in water, for Yellow Iris needs wet conditions and will not grow on dry land.

The rhizomes were used to produce both a black dye and an ink.

Yellow Flag is a perennial with stout stems and an under-ground horizontal tuber. It is poisonous.

Irisquinone is an contact allergen found in Yellow Flag, which is very similar to one of the quinones (Primin) found in species of Primrose, some species of which are notoriously allergenic, causing contact dermatitis. Compare with GeranylGeranyl-Benzoquinone and other benzoquinones with long aliphatic side chains.

ANY TEXT GOES HERE


Distribution
family8iris family8Iridaceae
BSBI maps
genus8iris
Iris

YELLOW IRIS

YELLOW FLAG

Iris Pseudacorus

Iris Family [Iridaceae]