1924, Iris Kimballiae

Addisonia page 59, Plate 318, 1924

IRIS KIMBALLIAE

Miss Kimball's Blue-flag

Native of Florida

Family Iridaceae, Iris Family

Iris Kimballiae Small, sp. nov.

Perhaps the Iris flora of the region north of the terminal moraine was extensive in pre-glacial times. Species, or their ancestors, that previously had been saved from extinction on the Pleistocene highlands may have been completely wiped out by the ice. This seems reasonable, for south of the moraine irises are comparatively numerous. They, or their ancestors, have had uninterrupted existence since they descended to the lowlands. They seem to have taken most eagerly to the wash of the old Piedmont and the mountains after it is spread out where there has been and still is but little change to disturb their peaceful existence. Even the plant collector has not yet secured specimens sufficient for the student to form a reasonable idea of their geographic distribution, and the habitats are not to the liking of the vandal.

The river-swamps of the Gulf coast region of Florida are rich in Iris. In the swamps within the city limits of Apalachicola are two quite distinct species, both of them botanically undescribed. Plants of one of these sent to the New York Botanical Garden by Winifred Kimball in the fall of 1921 flowered the following year, and from them the accompanying illustration was made. This is, perhaps, one of the several plants heretofore included under the designation "Iris hexagona" ; but it really belongs to a different group of the genus, for the pods are obtusely three-angled, instead of having six sharp angles. As in the case of Iris savannarum, which is isolated in the interior prairies of Florida, Iris Kimhalliae has become isolated in some of the coast-region swamps of the State. It prefers a black silt loam, usually in swamps whose water covers the surface, at least part of the year, and often where conditions have permitted a turf of grasses and sedges to form.

The geographic range of Iris Kimhalliae cannot yet be definitely defined. However, it has been found in the swamps along the lower Apalachicola River and in swamps in the vicinity of the lagoons in the coastal region of both sides of the upper part of the

For more information on historic Irises visit the Historic Iris Preservation Society at

-- BobPries - 2014-12-08