How to Identify Iridaceae — Iris Family
Iridaceae (Iris Family) is a plant family in the Plantae kingdom, order Asparagales, class Liliopsida. The family contains 554 accepted species worldwide. Some species in this family are toxic — exercise caution when handling unknown specimens.
Representative Iridaceae Species
Sisyrinchium striatum Sm.
Sisyrinchium striatum Sm.
Sisyrinchium striatum Sm. is a flowering plant native to Argentina and Chile tha…
Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl.
Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl.
Babiana mucronata is a small perennial cormous plant from South Africa’s Western…
Iris domestica (L.) Goldblatt & Mabb.
Iris domestica (L.) Goldblatt & Mabb.
Iris domestica, or blackberry lily, is a perennial herb native to Eastern Asia, …
Crocus scharojanii Rupr.
Crocus scharojanii Rupr.
Crocus scharojanii is a flowering Crocus species from the Iridaceae family found…
Trimezia steyermarkii R.C.Foster
Trimezia steyermarkii R.C.Foster
Trimezia steyermarkii is a yellow-flowered Iridaceae species native to parts of …
Ixia orientalis L.Bolus
Ixia orientalis L.Bolus
Ixia orientalis is a common, widespread endemic fynbos geophyte from South Afric…
Moraea gawleri Spreng.
Moraea gawleri Spreng.
Moraea gawleri is an Iridaceae plant species found mostly in South Africa's West…
Iris graminea L.
Iris graminea L.
Iris graminea is a grass-leaved iris species native to Europe and temperate Asia…
Iris lortetii Barbey
Iris lortetii Barbey
Iris lortetii is an endemic, potentially toxic showy iris from the Eastern Medit…
⚠️ Poisonous
Babiana purpurea (Vahl) Ker Gawl.
Babiana purpurea (Vahl) Ker Gawl.
Babiana purpurea is an endemic, range-restricted perennial geophyte of the Weste…
Dietes grandiflora N.E.Br.
Dietes grandiflora N.E.Br.
Dietes grandiflora is a rhizomatous perennial iris from South Africa, widely gro…
Babiana nervosa (Lam.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning
Babiana nervosa (Lam.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning
Babiana nervosa is a perennial flowering geophyte endemic to the Western Cape, b…
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you identify Iridaceae?
Iridaceae plants belong to the Asparagales order in the Plantae kingdom. Browse the 554 species gallery above for visual identification references. For instant identification, use the iNature app — AI-powered and works offline.
What are the key characteristics of Iridaceae?
Iridaceae is classified in the order Asparagales, class Liliopsida, phylum Tracheophyta. The family contains 554 accepted species worldwide.
⚠️ Are any Iridaceae species poisonous?
Yes, some Iridaceae species are toxic or poisonous. Always exercise caution with unknown specimens. View poisonous Iridaceae species or browse the full poisonous species guide.
Sources: GBIF, iNaturalist, Wikipedia · Disclaimer
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