FORM perennial herbaceous plants from rhizomes or corms.

Genera        60    

Species 800 in our area 21(Gray); 25 (B&B)⁴³

Distribution Global

Flowers Showy, perfect regular or bilateral bisexual 3-merous.

#Parts perianth segments 6 – two whorls or three, 3 stamens

Symmetry Regular or bilaterally symmetrical

Leaves Mostly narrow, long and entire, alternate simple, often basal.

The family includes the garden favorites crocus, gladiolus and freesia in addition to iris. The native species belong to two genera:

Iris genus resembles the cultivated varieties.

Sisyrinchium the blue-eyed grasses, have the same three stamens and inferior ovary.