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Yellow Flag Iris

Scientific Name:

Iris pseudacorus

Type:

Herbaceous Plant

Habitat:

Alongside slow moving rivers and on the edges of lakes in shallow water or mud

Range:

Native to Europe, Great Britain and North Africa; occurs as a non-native throughout much of the US and in other countries

Status:

No listed status

This species is

INVASIVE

to the Truckee Meadows.

Identification:

Yellow flag iris is an aquatic plant that grows 2 to 3 feet tall with long, flat, sword-like leaves which are a deep green color. Several 2.5 to 3.5 inch flowers atop the end of stems and are pale to bright yellow and can have brownish-purple speckles.

Fast Facts:

  • Yellow flag iris is poisonous to livestock and contact with resin can lead to skin irritation in humans.

  • This plant reproduces by both seeds and rhizomes, an underground plant stem that puts out roots and shoots and allows the plant to spread easily when small pieces break off.

  • Hundreds of yellow flag iris plants can be connected by rhizomes.

  • Yellow flag iris can form dense monoculture that invades native aquatic plants and can diminish habitat for native fish and birds.

Sources:

Contributor(s):

Tessa Putz (research & content)

Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)

Last Updated:

May 12, 2021 at 11:08:29 PM

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