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 Society for Louisiana Irises Main Sections
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T
he Louisiana Irises belong to a group of iris species native to
the American South.
Audubon, the great painter of American birds, included the "Louisiana Irises" in the background of one of his bird paintings. In addition to the originally described I. hexagona, other species include I. fulva (Ker-Gawler, 1812) and I. brevicaulis (Rafinesque,
1817).
It was not until 1929 that the tireless John R. Small described the
towering blue coastal marsh iris known as I. giganticaerulea.
Still later,
in 1966, Randolph described a new species called I. nelsonii--which
included what had earlier been known as the "Abbeville reds."
Today
taxonomists still assess (if not debate) the various species within the
Louisiana irises.
From these species a myriad of hybrids--both naturally occurring
and by the hand of humans--have been recorded.
More information on Louisiana iris species
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The first species within this grouping to be
officially described was Iris hexagona, recorded by Walter in 1788. The first species within this grouping to be officially described was Iris hexagona,
recorded by Walter in 1788. Hence the group is today known as the Series hexagonea.
I. fulva brought the color red into the genetics of this group; I.
brevicaulis contributed cold-hardyness.