| English Name | Hong Kong Iris |
|---|---|
| Status in China | Least Concern (LC) |
Description:
Perennial herbs. Rhizomes creeping. Roots thick. Leaves slightly curved, dark green, glossy, linear, 15-30 cm long, 0.6-1.2 cm wide, base sheath-like, veins 3-5. Flowering stems 20-25 cm long, 1- or 2-leaved; spathes 2 or 3, green, lanceolate, 5.5-7.5 cm long, 1 or 2-flowered; pedicels 3-5.5 cm long. Flowers violet or light blue, 5.6-6 cm in diam. Perianth tube ca. 5 mm long; outer segments spatulate, 3-4 cm long, with a dark purple circular patch, mid-vein with a yellow crest; inner segments erect, narrowly oblanceolate. Capsule ellipsoid, ca. 5-5.5 cm long, 2 cm in diam., apex long beaked.
Distribution:
Cape D'Aguilar, Tai Tam, Sunset Peak, Po Toi Island. SW, S and E China.
Habitat and Ecology:
In forests and on moist grasslands. Flowering: May. Fruiting: Jul.-Aug.
This species was first discovered on Hong Kong Island by Hance in 1875. The large and colourful flowers make it an attractive ornamental plant. In Hong Kong, most of the localities of its occurrence are in country parks under protection. It has also been listed under the Forestry Regulations (Cap.96 sub. leg.).
References:
趙毓棠，1985：中國植物誌16（1）：174-176，圖版56：1-4。科學出版社，北京
