Del Norte County Iris

Iris innominata hybridizes with I. bracteata, I. chrysophylla, I. douglasiana, I. fernaldii, I. macrosiphon, I. munzii, I. purdyi, and I. tenax. It is known only from southwestern Oregon and Del Norte County in northwestern California.

Rhizomes freely branching, forming compact tufts, slender, 0.3–0.4 cm diam., covered with remains of old leaves; roots fibrous. Stems simple, solid, slender, 2–2.5 dm. Leaves: basal evergreen, abundant, blade dark, shining green on one side, lighter green on the other, pink to deep purple basally, 3.5 dm × 0.2–0.4 cm, longer than flowering stem, margins not thickened; cauline 2–4, sheathing stem for about 2/3 length, foliaceous, spreading, blade not inflated, 4–9 cm. Inflorescence units 1(–2)-flowered; spathes closely enclosing ovary and floral tube, broadly lanceolate to ovate, 3.3–6 cm × 5–7 mm, herbaceous, margins scarious. Flowers: perianth usually dark golden yellow, cream, pink, lavender, or purple, heavily veined purple or brown; floral tube 1.5–3 cm; sepals usually yellow with heavy veining, broadly oblanceolate, 4.5–6 × 1.7–3 cm, base gradually attenuate, margins often wavy; petals same color as sepals with lighter veining, narrowly oblanceolate, 4–5.7 × 0.9–1.6 cm, base gradually attenuate; ovary roundly triangular in cross section, 1.5–1.8 cm; style 2–2.6 cm, crests overlapping, subquadrate to semiovate, 0.9–1.4 cm, margins irregularly toothed; stigmas triangular, margins entire; pedicel 0.4–1.3 cm at anthesis. Capsules oblong-oval, circular in cross section, 2.5 × 1.2 cm. Seeds in 2 rows per locule, dark brown, oval, sharply angled, 3 mm, wrinkled, pitted. 2n = 40.

Flowering May--Jun. Dry, sunny woods; Calif., Oreg.

Iris innominata, the Del Norte County iris, is a species of iris native to southern Oregon, and California along the north coast and Klamath Ranges in Del Norte County, California.

The leaves are dense and evergreen, up to 20 cm. The flower is typically deep golden yellow with darker veins, although colors may vary. The flower stems are about 12 cm and usually bear 1–2 flowers in spring.

It is on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California List 4, Limited distribution (Watch List).