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Iris sintenisii
Iris sintenisii has linear, glaucous green to dark green, rigid, acuminate (tapering to a long point), grass-like leaves, described as evergreen, with clear pronounced veins.They can grow up to between 10–50 cm (4–20 in) long,[7] and 0.3–0.5 cm wide. The leaves often exceed the height of the flower stems. It has cylindrical or slightly compressed, unbranched stems. They can grow up to between 10–40 cm (4–16 in) long. The stems have 2-3, green spathes, (leaves of the flower bud), that are 3.5-7.5 cm long. The leaves are all keeled. The inner leaves are slightly longer the outer leaves. The stems or peduncle hold 1 or 2, terminal (top of stem) flowers, between late spring and summer, between June and July. The flowers are not scented, and can be up 5–6 cm (2–2 in) in diameter, and come in shades of violet-blue, blue-purple, blue, and violet. It has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or tepals, known as the 'standards'. This iris is uniquely pollinated by ants (you can see them in photos 2 & 3), as the flowers secrete nectar at the base of the petals.
Mount Chortiatis (Thessaloniki, Greece).
Spotted on Jun 7, 2015
Submitted on Jan 13, 2016
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