Iris sibirica

This extremely beautiful plant, which grows to a height of up to 80 cm, has erect stems with leaves that are all basal and linear. The terminal flowers have an unusual structure typical of the genus: the 3 outer tepals are bent downwards and are whitish or blue streaked with violet and mottled yellow-brown at the base, the 3 inner ones are erect and blue-violet in colour. Present throughout northern Italy, it is however an endangered species as it lives on marshy meadows at low altitudes, habitats that are often subject to reclamation work. Irises (especially I. germanica and I. pseudacorus) have been widely selected by nursery men and women to obtain ornamental cultivars for growing in gardens and producing cut flowers.