Iris lacustris
Botanical Name: Iris lacustris (added by D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
Botanical Synonyms:
Iris cristata var. lacustris (D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
Classification:
Crested (D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
Lophiris (D. Kramb, 25-SEP-04)
Common Names:
Great Lakes iris, Dwarf lake iris (D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
Chromosome Count:
2n=42 (D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
General Description:
Similar to Iris cristata, but with much shorter perianth-tube, and different chromosome number. (D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
Flowers are lavender-blue, rarely white, with gold crests and white patch. (D. Kramb, 25-SEP-04)
Distinguishing Features:
N/A
Preferred Habitat:
Gravelly shores and cliffs in calcareous soil around Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron. (D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
No confirmed reports from Lake Superior, but may yet be found there. (Sean Zera, 01-JUN-05)
Hardiness:
Estimated Zone 4-7 (D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
Native Range:
Found only along the shores of the Great Lakes in USA and Canada. (D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
Known from 8 counties in the southern Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan and 2 counties on Wisconsin's Door Peninsula, as well as Manitoulin Island and the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. (Sean Zera, 01-JUN-05)
Status in the Wild:
Common within its extremely restricted habitat. Designated threatened at the federal and state/province level throughout its range. (Sean Zera, 01-JUN-05)
Commercial Availability:
Rare, sometimes available in SIGNA seed exchange. (D. Kramb, 09-MAY-04)
Sources Cited:
Info entered on 25-SEP-04 comes from the SIGNA Checklist of Iris Species. (D. Kramb, 25-SEP-04)
Most info entered on 01-JUN-05 from Edward Voss' "Michigan Flora Part I" (Sean Zera, 01-JUN-05)
Additional Comments:
N/A
Species Iris Group of North America
SIGNA member!