irises

• perianth yellow, veined darker
• perianth tube 35–60 mm, narrow, gradually funnel-shaped distally
• stem unbranched, 20–40 cm
• basal leaves 6–8 mm wide
• 1–3 cauline leaves, similar to basal
• sepals 5–7 cm, 7–21 mm wide, elliptic, clawed
• petals 4–6 cm, 6–12 mm wide, elliptic
• ovary triangular
• style branches 30–50 mm, crests 13–17 mm, stigmas triangular
• rare; Santa Cruz range, south from Foothills

Warning: ID uncertain.

• perianth cream to gold-yellow or lavender to deep blue-purple, generally veined darker
• perianth tube 34–65 mm, abruptly inflated, bowl-like at top [there is no bowl]
• stem unbranched, 0–15 cm
• basal leaves 3–6 mm wide, base generally colorless
• 0–3 cauline leaves, similar to basal
• sepals 4–7 cm, 14–22 mm wide, widely elliptic, clawed, ± flared at base
• petals 4–7 cm, 6–11 mm wide, elliptic
• ovary triangular
• style branches 19–33 mm, crests 8–18 mm, stigmas triangular
• uncommon; open to partly shaded slopes in oak or pine woodland

• perianth light to dark lavender, deep red-purple, or pale cream, veined purple
• perianth tube 10–24 mm, funnel-shaped
• stem generally branched, 15–50 cm
• basal leaves 10–22 mm wide
• bifacial, i.e. one side shiny, the other side dull
• 1–3 cauline leaves, similar to basal
• sepals 5–8 cm, 14–30 mm wide, obovate
• petals 5–7 cm, 10–18 mm wide, obovate
• ovary triangular, with nipple-like projection at tip
• style branches 30–50 mm, crests 9–20 mm, stigmas triangular
• var. major has a cross of characteristics between fernald’s iris (Iris fernaldii) and douglas iris (Iris douglasiana) [source]

• perianth generally bright yellow or cream with prominent brown veins, marks on sepals
• perianth tube 12–13 mm, barrel-shaped
• stem branched, 50–150 cm
• basal leaves 20–35 mm wide, stiff, midvein conspicuous
• 3–6 cauline leaves, similar to basal
• sepals widely oblanceolate, 5–8 cm, 35–50 mm wide
• petals obovate, clawed, 2–3 cm, 4–8 mm wide
• style branches < 25 mm, crests 7–10 mm, stigmas rounded
• Jasper, Marin, Mt. Tam; pond margins, estuaries

• sepal obviously bearded
• the beard is a dense line of hairs extending along the petal midline through the throat, but not much beyond
• for all other irises, sepals are not obviously bearded
• stigmas rounded-triangular
• very rare

• perianth lilac-purple, veined darker
• perianth tube 5–13 mm, funnel-shaped
• stem rarely branched, 30–60 cm
• basal leaf 5–11 mm wide
• 1–2 cauline leaves, bract-like for at least ⅔ stem length
• lowest bracts alternate (rarely opposite), 0.5–10 cm apart
• sepals 6–10 cm, 30–50 mm wide, obovate
• petals 5–9 cm, 15–21 mm wide, elliptic
• ovary rounded
• style branches 35–43 mm, crests 12–15 mm, stigmas 2-lobed
• scattered; moist, coastal prairie or open coastal forest

• perianth pale yellow to brown, red-brown, or green, veined green or red-brown
• perianth tube 11–14 mm, constricted near ovary
• stem generally branched, 25–40 cm
• basal leaf 25–35 mm wide
• 2–4 cauline leaves, bract-like for at least ⅔ length, but also similar to basal especially near tip [huh?]
• lowest 2 bracts opposite
• sepals 3–5 cm, 18–20 mm wide, obovate
• petals 3–4 cm, 11–18 mm wide, narrowly obovate
• ovary triangular
• style branches 22–30 mm, crests 5–8 mm, stigmas 2-lobed
• rare; damp areas in light shade