• 12"x 8" image size (14"x 10" paper size) / 200 prints / 14"x 18" matting size
• available as a Matted Card/Calendar scene.

The 200 species of iris can be divided into two groups. The first has creeping, underground stems, or rhizomes and includes the bearded (or German) irises and the Japanese and Siberian (beardless) irises. The second group has bulbs, modified underground buds with fleshy leaf bases and includes the Dutch, Spanish, and English varieties.

The beard in bearded irises consists of a group of colored hairs on the upper surface of each of the falls. The flowers are composed of a floral envelope (perianth) with six petal-like segments, three or six stamens, and an ovary enclosed by the base of the perianth. Triggered mainly by the shortening periods of darkness during spring and summer, flower buds open to display brightly-colored petals that attract insects seeking nectar. Once a flower has been pollinated, its petals shrivel and drop off.

Aside from its horticultural value, the iris family is of little economic importance. Rhizomes of several species, are dried and powdered to obtain orris root, used in perfume and other cosmetics.