Appearance
It has slender, greenish, or whitish yellow rhizomes. They are shallow rooted. They spread by sending out long stolons from multiple branches. They can have up to 2-8 cord-like branches. The branches can be 20–30 cm long and 1-2mm wide. Under the rhizomes are fleshy-like roots. The branches are brown. The creeping habit can create large masses of plants over time.It has 6-8 basal leaves, which are divided onto 2-3 proximal leaves and 4-5 distal leaves.
The proximal leaves are falcate, light brown with a darker brown central mid-rib, and the distal leaves are ensiform, green or yellowish green, with a few visible veins. They can grow up to between 7.5–15 cm long and 1-2.5 cm wide. They elongate after flowering, growing up to 15–40 cm long. The elongated leaves hide any seed pods produced later.
It has short stems,, growing up to between 2.5–4.5 cm tall. The pedicel or stem, is the same length to the ovary.
It has an overall height with stem and flower reaching 7–10 cm tall.
It has 2-3 cauline, spathes, which are green, falcate slightly inflated, unequal and 2–6 cm long.
The spathes bear 1 or 2 flowers, in Spring, or early Summer, between April to May. They only flower for a short time.
The fragrant, flowers are 3–5 cm in diameter, and come in shades of blue, from lavender, to lilac, to pale blue, and purple. There are occasionally white forms, and very rarely pink forms.
It has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals, known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide. They have a central white signal patch, which is surrounded by a purple ring, with 3 parallel orange or yellow crests. The fall tapers towards the claw. The standards are erect, oblanceolate and 3–4 cm long and 1–2 cm wide.
It has a filiform, perianth tube that is 4–8 cm long. This large flower tube lifts the flower above ground level.
It has a triangular, 0.6–1 cm long ovary, an oblong stigma and 1.5 cm long, triangular crested, style branch.
After the iris has flowered, it produces an ovoid seed capsule. The capsule is 1–2 cm long, with ridged angles and triangular in cross-section. Inside the capsule, are ellipsoid, yellowish-brown seeds that are 3.2–3.5 mm across and have a white appendage that spirally wraps around the seed.
Distribution
It is native to temperate regions of United States of America.
Status
"Iris cristata" is listed as 'endangered' in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Habitat
It is native to temperate regions of United States of America.It grows in calcareous soils, in oak woodlands, on rocky hillsides, in ravines, on mountain ledges, and along streams.
Defense
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous, if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction. Also risk of Dermatitis.
Uses
It has been listed as a medicinal plant.It has been used by the Cherokee North American Indians in herbal medicines. A decoction of the pulverized root was used as salve for ulcers. An infusion taken for liver. Also a decoction of the root was used to treat a "yellowish urine." The root was also used as an ingredient in a cream applied to skin ulcers.
The root has also been used as a spice.
In the 19th Century, hunters in Virginia used the root, as a thirst aid. It is initially sweet and then the taste of the root becomes pungently acrid.
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