Yellow Iris or Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus)
Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake - A Photo Journal
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Art and Photo Journals
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"And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.
And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31)
Since 
Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake
Yellow Iris or Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus)
(Yellow Flag Iris - 01) On 31 May 2004 we
spotted two clumps of yellow flag or yellow iris growing along the edge of
Sleepy Hollow Lake with other wild flowers and grasses. This was the first
time in our 31 years of being here that we have seen a yellow iris. This
is the only species of yellow iris that grows wild. Yellow iris grow to
heights of between one and three feet.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 01a) The leaves of
the yellow Iris are long, flat and upright with a sword-like appearance. A
flower bud can be seen in the upper left of the photo. According to the
literature, only one flower grows at the terminal, or upper end of each flower
stalk. The frilly white wildflower growing to the left of the yellow iris
flower is white bedstraw. (We thought that some of our visitors might
wonder.)
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 02) The construction
of the yellow iris flower is quite interesting: The large yellow
petal-like structures with the dark veining are really the 3 sepals. The
shorter petal-like structures that partially cover the sepals are really the 3
styles. Three stamens are hidden under the the styles. In the center
of the flower are the 3 tiny (by comparison) petals. The total flower
measures about 3 inches across.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 03) In this yellow
iris flower photo, we can see the way the sepals curl downward. Yellow
iris bloom from May to July.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 03a) In this bee's
eye view of a yellow iris flower, we can see more of the details of the sepal,
style, and petal.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 04) Despite the fact
that the literature says that yellow iris flowers are solitary and terminal,
this photo proves that there can be at least three flowers on a stalk: The
one in the foreground is withering, the one in the background is mature, and
between the two yellow iris flowers is a bud.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 05) In this photo, we
have a closer look at the bud of the third yellow iris to grow on this single
stalk.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 06) In this water-side
view of a clump of yellow iris, we can see that both the leaves and the flower
stalks grow from the base.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 07) In this photo, we
can see the way the yellow iris leaves, with their lineal veining, fan out from
a basal cluster.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 08) Even a withering
yellow iris flower retains much of its beauty. Yellow iris are native to
Asia and Europe.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 09) This is another
yellow iris flower. Yellow iris are usually found along the edges of
lakes, rivers, and streams, and in marsh lands.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 10) This is another
photo of a yellow flag iris growing on the side of the lake.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 10a) In this photo of
a yellow flag iris, we can see another iris bud behind the flower stem, and
another emerging flower stem near the bottom of the photo.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 11) In this photo of
the yellow flag iris, we can see the sky reflected in the background of the
quiet lake.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 12) In this close up
photo of a yellow flag iris, we lifted up one of a styles to reveal the normally
hidden stamen.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 12a) In this bee's
eye view of a yellow flag iris, we have a closer look at one of the stamens and
the fallen pollen grains lying on the sepal below.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 13) This is another
close up photo of a normally hidden stamen of a yellow flag iris.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 14) This is a clump of
yellow flag iris that was growing along the edge of the lake next to a dock,
from which we took the photo.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 15) This photo of
yellow flag iris was sent to us by Darlu Littledeer, with our thanks. She
wrote: "I have been hiking around the lake at Craighead Forest Park here in
Jonesboro, AR for over 5 years. This past week I saw for the very first time one
small stand of yellow iris growing at the lake's edge. I didn't know exactly
what the flowers were, so I came home and did some research on my computer. I
knew the flowers were iris and knew they were yellow; didn't know if they were
wild, but assumed they must be. I ran across your website and thought I would
send you a couple of pictures I took of these iris. Thought you might enjoy
knowing they were here and seeing what they looked like. Thanks for the
informational material and pictures that you provided at your website."
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 16) This is the second
photo of the yellow flag iris that was sent to us by Darlu Littledeer.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 17) In late Summer the
yellow iris flowers have faded away, and they are replaced by mature seed pods.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 17a) In this photo we
have a closer look at the yellow iris seed pods.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 18) This is another
look at the seed pods on the yellow iris.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 19) This and the following
photos of the yellow flag iris were taken on 16 Jun 2005, on our lake shore, of
this first blooming iris plant. The interesting thing to us was that the blooms
were much smaller that a mature iris plant, and the following year they were
normal size. Also note the dew drop on the leaves.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 20) This is another
look at the yellow flag iris.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 21) This is another
view of the yellow flag iris growing on the lake shore. Some people consider
them to be an invasive species, but the Conservation Dept. recommends them for
wetland stabilization.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 22) This is another
look at the yellow flag iris.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 23) This is a closer
look at the yellow flag iris flower.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 24) This is another
look at the yellow flag iris growing along the lake shore.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 25) This is another
look at the clump of yellow flag iris.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 26) This is a closer
look at the yellow flag iris flower stalk.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 26a) This is a close
up view of the dew drop covered yellow flag iris flower.
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(Yellow Flag Iris - 27) This is the final
look at this small yellow flag iris flower that we took in 2005. We have not
seen another one its size again.
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| Wild Flowers of SHL: Photo Identification, Common Name, Scientific Name | Art and Photos |
Presented here are just a few of the countless components of God's creation.
Just as we cannot have human and animal life without water and plants, neither
can we have lasting peace without love and compassion. It is our hope and
prayer that this series will motivate people to live and act in a cruelty-free
manner; that we would no longer hurt or destroy each other, the animals or our
environment.
If you would like to contribute a photo and/or comment to these series,
please contact:
Frank L. Hoffman flh@all-creatures.org
© 2001-2011 - The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation. All rights reserved. May be copied only for personal use or by not for profit organizations to promote compassionate and responsible living. All copied and reprinted material must contain proper credits and web site link www.all-creatures.org.
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