Yellow Iris or Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)Yellow Iris or Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake From All-Creatures.org Art and Photo Journals and Galleries Directory

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Yellow Iris or Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus)
Table of Contents

Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 01
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 01a
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.)
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 02
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 03
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 03)  In this yellow iris flower photo, we can see the way the sepals curl downward.  Yellow iris bloom from May to July.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 03a
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 04
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 05
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 05)  In this photo, we have a closer look at the bud of the third yellow iris to grow on this single stalk.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 06
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 07
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 07)  In this photo, we can see the way the yellow iris leaves, with their lineal veining, fan out from a basal cluster.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 08
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 08)  Even a withering yellow iris flower retains much of its beauty.  Yellow iris are native to Asia and Europe.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 09
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 09)  This is another yellow iris flower.  Yellow iris are usually found along the edges of lakes, rivers, and streams, and in marsh lands.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 10
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 10)  This is another photo of a yellow flag iris growing on the side of the lake.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 10a
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 11
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 11)  In this photo of the yellow flag iris, we can see the sky reflected in the background of the quiet lake.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 12
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 12)  In this close up photo of a yellow flag iris, we lifted up one of a styles to reveal the normally hidden stamen.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 12a
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 13
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 13)  This is another close up photo of a normally hidden stamen of a yellow flag iris.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 14
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 15
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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."
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 16
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 16)  This is the second photo of the yellow flag iris that was sent to us by Darlu Littledeer.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 17
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 17)  In late Summer the yellow iris flowers have faded away, and they are replaced by mature seed pods.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 17a
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 17a)  In this photo we have a closer look at the yellow iris seed pods.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 18
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 18)  This is another look at the seed pods on the yellow iris.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 19
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 20
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 20) This is another look at the yellow flag iris.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 21
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 22
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 22) This is another look at the yellow flag iris.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 23
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 23) This is a closer look at the yellow flag iris flower.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 24
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 24) This is another look at the yellow flag iris growing along the lake shore.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 25
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 25) This is another look at the clump of yellow flag iris.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 26
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 26) This is a closer look at the yellow flag iris flower stalk.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 26a
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 26a) This is a close up view of the dew drop covered yellow flag iris flower.
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 27
(Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - 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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