(Iris juncea)
Iris juncea (commonly called the rush iris) is a smooth-bulbed bulbous iris species. The name is derived from 'juncea' from the Greek word meaning 'rush-like'. It was first described by Jean Louis Marie Poiret in 1871. It was then illustrated in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1898. Its flowers are light yellow and fragrant. Normally 2 per stem in summer. It flowers between June and July. It grows to a height of between 1 and 2 feet. The 3mm wide leaves appear in the autumn and then fade before flowering. The bulb is reddish-brown in colour. It can be found in (Algeria and Tunisia) in North Africa, Southern Spain and Sicily. Other varieties known include; - iris juncea var. merimieri (Lynch) Sulphur yellow flowers - iris juncea var. numidica (Anon) lemon-yellow flowers (from Africa) - iris juncea var. pallida (Lynch) large soft yellow flowers