Appearance
"Iris bicapitata" is similar in form to "Iris germanica" but a slightly smaller.It has a thick horizontal, fleshy rhizome. That is similar in form to other bearded irises.
It has linear, falcate, or acuminate leaves.
They can grow up to between 30–50 cm long, and around 2.5 cm wide. The tip of the leaves is membranous.
It has a slender stem or peduncle, that can grow up to between 30–40 cm tall. But can reach up to 60 cm in cultivation.
The stem has carinated spathes. They have membranous or papery tips and violet tinged edges.
The stems hold 2 terminal flowers. Although rarely it can have 3 flowers. Compared to other native irises, such as "Iris lutescens" and "Iris pseudopumila" who have one flower.
The fragrant flowers, bloom between March and May.
The flowers are very variable in colour, they are polymorphic. They can come in shades from white, yellow, blue, lilac, to violet. They also can be bi-coloured. The flower also can very rarely be pale yellow with violet veins, similar to "Iris variegata". The most common colour is deep blue violet, or purple blue. The flowers are larger than "Iris pseudopumila" and "Iris revoluta".
Like other irises, it has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals, known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals, known as the 'standards'.: 17
The drooping, sub-ellipsoidal falls are 6–8.5 cm long and 2–3.5 cm wide. In the centre, they have a beard, which is either blue or white, but tipped with yellow.
The shorter, obliquely upright standards, are The tips of the standards are inclined to each other.
It has perianth tube that is 4 cm long, and a 1.5 cm long and 1.8 cm wide ovary.
It has blue stamens, a 4.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide stigma and filaments longer than the anthers.
After the iris has flowered, it produces an ovoid, or obovate,, seed capsule. It is 7.5 cm long, and 3.5 cm wide.
Distribution
It is native to South-eastern Europe.Status
It is rare, but has abundant populations on the Gargano Peninsula.Habitat
It is native to South-eastern Europe.It grows on open sunny slopes, or in meadows and between shrubs, on a limestone,.They can be found at an altitude of 600 to 1,000 m above sea level.
Defense
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous, and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.References:
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