Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis
Orleans iris, Orleans Iris
(c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sam Kieschnick · licence
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis (Orleans iris) is a native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by triangular-winged ovary diagnostic.
Orleans iris is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native perennial found in western Klamath Ranges near Orleans, Humboldt County in shaded mixed-evergreen forests at elevations of 80 to 800 meters. Flowering in May, this plant produces pale buff yellow flowers with deep maroon or brown veins, 5 to 7 centimeters long with elliptic sepals and narrowly elliptic petals. Growing with unbranched stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall emerging from thin rhizomes, it has basal leaves 2 to 4 millimeters wide and 1 to 3 cauline leaves that transition from bract-like at the base to leaf-like near the stem tip. Its leaves and flowers are arranged with distinctive spreading bracts 4 to 7 centimeters long and 8 to 12 millimeters wide, positioned near the stem tip. The plant features intricate style branches 35 to 41 millimeters long with triangular stigmas and an ovary with triangular wings.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; triangular-winged ovary diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shaded mixed-evergreen forests
Elevation: 80-800 m
California counties: Humboldt, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Siskiyou, Trinity
Bloom period
Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis blooms May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Dietes: Iris has broad petal-like style branches; Dietes has thread-like styles and flowers lasting only one day.; vs Canna: Iris has six-parted flowers with drooping sepals; Canna has asymmetric flowers with one petal-like stamen.; vs Hemerocallis: Iris has petal-like style branches opposite stamens; Hemerocallis has simple thread-like styles and six equal tepals.; vs Typha: Iris has showy six-parted flowers; Typha has dense brown cylindrical flower spikes (cattails).; vs Sisyrinchium: Iris has large flowers with drooping outer sepals; Sisyrinchium has small flat flowers with six equal tepals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis native to California?
Yes. Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis bloom?
Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis blooms May.
Where in California does Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis grow?
Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis occurs in Humboldt, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Siskiyou, Trinity, at elevations of 80-800 m.
What plant family does Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis belong to?
Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis is in the Iridaceae family, genus Iris.
Is Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis rare or endangered?
Iris tenax subsp. klamathensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.