Iris pseudacorus L.

Clumps very leafy, many-flowered, to 1 m high, dark green, ± glaucous, purple at base. Rhizome c. 3 cm diam., reddish-brown. Leaves c. = stems, 2–3 cm wide, cross-veinlets apparent when leaf is held up to light, midrib distinct. Stems terete, with several long leaves. Inflorescence usually branched, central axis and each branch terminated by 2–5-flowered clusters. Flowers to 12 cm diam., yellowish, varying from golden-orange to very pale cream, without scent; pedicels long, stout, > ovary; tube funnel-shaped, ± ½ length of ovary; outer segments 7 cm long, oval-oblong, limb c. 4 cm wide, very drooping, abruptly narrowed to dark brown-veined claw; inner segments c. 3 cm long, shorter and narrower but more erect than style-branches. Style-branches oblong, bifid crest fimbriate. Capsule c. 5 × 2 cm, oblong-elliptic, beaked; seeds brown, ± trigonous.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]

Flowering: Nov.–Dec.