Purdy's iris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purdy's iris |
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Iris
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purdyi
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Iris purdyi is a beautiful wild flower. It is a type of iris plant. People often call it Purdy's iris or the redwood iris. It got its name from a person named Carl Purdy. You can find this special iris growing in the redwood forests. These forests are in California and southern Oregon. This flower blooms from April to June each year.
Contents
Discovering Purdy's Iris
What Purdy's Iris Looks Like
Its Leaves
The leaves of Purdy's iris are green. They often have a pink tint along their edges. There is a special leaf-like part called a spathe. This spathe is green and has red edges. It wraps around the flower bud.
Its Flowers
The flowers of this iris are usually light yellow and lavender. They often have darker lines or veins. Each flower has both male and female parts. The top part of the female organ, called the stigma, is special. It is rounded or flat, and sometimes has tiny teeth. This is different from other irises in its group.
Its Seeds
The seeds of Purdy's iris are light brown. They can be D-shaped or have an uneven shape. They also look a bit wrinkled.
Why This Iris Is Rare Now
Purdy's iris used to be very common. But things have changed in its home. When people cut down trees or build new roads, it opens up the forest. This allows other types of irises to move in. Two common ones are I. douglasiana and I. macrosiphon.
When different iris types grow close, they can mix. This mixing is called hybridization. It creates new iris plants that are a mix of two types. Because of this, it is now rare to find a pure Iris purdyi plant. Most of them are mixed with other irises.
Where Purdy's Iris Grows
You can find Purdy's iris in specific areas. In California, it grows in Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity counties. It also grows in the southern part of Oregon.
How Irises Mix and Match
Iris purdyi can mix with many other iris types. This means they can create hybrid plants together. Some of the irises it mixes with include I. bracteata, I. chrysophylla, I. douglasiana, I. innominata, I. macrosiphon, I. tenax, and I. tenuissima.
One famous mix was with I. tenax. This new plant was named "Iota." An Englishman named William Dykes created it. In 1914, "Iota" was the first California iris to win a special award. It received the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
What People Use It For
Native American people traditionally used Purdy's iris. They used the strong outer fibers from each leaf. These fibers were perfect for making rope. The leaves can also be used to make a light tan paper.
