Family: iris family (Iridaceae)
Flowering time: May–June
Size: 15–40 cm
Habitat: dry meadows, warm scrublands and sunlit forests
The upright stem of the grass-leaved iris (Iris graminea) is markedly flattened. It grows up to 40 cm tall and at the top it bears one or two beautiful purple flowers. The leaves of the perianth are up to 5 cm long. The lower petals are whitish at the tips and adorned with a pattern of violet veins. The basal leaves, about 10 mm wide, resemble grass blades, hence the name of this iris. The leaves are always longer than the flowering stem. At first they are upright, after flowering they lie along the ground.
The grass-leaved iris thrives in warm habitats throughout Slovenia, but is not common anywhere; in the northeastern part of the country it does not grow at all.
