Iris tenuissima subsp. purdyiformis

Family: Iridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Iris tenuissima subsp. purdyiformis is a California native perennial found in the high mountain regions in shaded rocky slopes and yellow-pine forests at elevations of 500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pale yellow or cream-colored flowers with delicate pale or reddish veins. Growing with slender stems up to 30 to 45 centimeters tall, it has distinctive bract-like cauline leaves that are slightly inflated and often flushed with pink. Its basal leaves are narrow, measuring 3 to 5 millimeters wide, while the cauline leaves are bract-like and typically 3 to 4 in number. The outer bracts of the plant are notable, measuring 4 to 5.6 centimeters in length.

Habitat: Uncommon. Shaded rocky slopes, yellow-pine forest

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 500-2000 m

Bioregions: CaRH.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.