View source for Phil Bendle Collection:Fairy Iris (Dietes grandiflora)

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'''Kingdom:''' Plantae<br />
'''(Unranked):''' Angiosperms<br />
'''(Unranked):''' Monocots<br />
'''Order:''' Asparagales<br />
'''Family:''' Iridaceae<br />
'''Subfamily:''' Iridoideae<br />
'''Tribe:''' Irideae<br />
'''Genus:''' Dietes<br />
'''Species:''' D. grandiflora<br />
'''Binomial name:''' Dietes grandiflora<br />
'''Common names:''' Fairy Iris, Large wild iris

Dietes grandiflora is a rhizomatous perennial plant with long, rigid, sword-like green leaves belonging to the Iridaceae family and is native to South Africa.<br />
The flowers are large (about 100mm across) and are white with yellow nectar guides and outer tepals and violet central segments.<br />
Dark markings are found at the base of the outer tepals. The flowers are held on erect, slender stems which are about 1m in length.<br />
These are borne in abundance during summer, especially after rain.<br />
The flowers are borne in mass at certain periods, often after rain in summer. The individual flowers do not last more than a couple of days.<br />
This plant is occasionally called the &quot;Fairy Iris&quot; because the fragile white petals not only look like fairy wings but also have a tendency to disappear mysteriously overnight!<br />
Flowers are followed by 5 cm long green capsules that contain very shiny, dark brown seeds that are dispersed when the capsule splits open.

[http://ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info/image_files/0000/0002/9219/Dietes_grandiflora-001.JPG]

[http://ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info/image_files/0000/0002/9214/Dietes_grandiflora.JPG]

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/








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[[Category:Plants (Exotic)]]
[[Category:Phil Bendle Collection]]