Iris sicula

xilpa · Post by **xilpa** » Fri May 07, 2010 5:37 pm

Am I right in assuming that this is Iris sicula ?

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Sat May 08, 2010 5:54 pm

seems so. if the flowers are on very tall stems, it is

xilpa · Post by **xilpa** » Sat May 08, 2010 6:36 pm

Thanks Pine. They were on long stems, they came up to my waist.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Sun May 09, 2010 4:26 pm

then it is. in my opinion one of malta's most beautiful plants

Post by **MWP admin** » Fri May 28, 2010 5:05 pm

There is also I. germanica s.l. which resembles it a bit, but this is usually darker in colour. The leaves of I. sicula are pale green and slightly glaucous, those of Germanica (usually) darker, but I have not seen many I. germanica to be sure about this observation.

Note that this is a protected species

xilpa · Post by **xilpa** » Sat May 29, 2010 1:29 pm

I'm afraid I am not knowledgable enought to tell the difference.
I could tell you exactly where I found them ( there was a group of about 6 or 7) and you can check them out yourself.

Albert

Post by **MWP admin** » Sat May 29, 2010 5:20 pm

In general I think the photos are I. sicula. In the first photo I can see the flowering stem turning glaucous towards the base and the flower is relatively pale. I just wanted to inform you about the existence of the closely related I. germanica and so not every large branching Iris is I. sicula.

xilpa · Post by **xilpa** » Sat May 29, 2010 6:32 pm

Many thanks