Iris foetidissima
Tracheophyta
›Magnoliopsida›Iridaceae›Iris›Iris foetidissima
Ecology
A perennial herb, highly tolerant of drought and shade, found in hedge banks and woods, and on sheltered scrubby sea-cliffs, mostly on calcareous substrates. Reproduction is by seed and by rhizomatous extension. Lowland.
Status
Native
Trends
The native range of I. foetidissima is much obscured by garden escapes and introductions. It is treated here as alien throughout Ireland. Its overall distribution has not changed since the 1962 Atlas, although it is now much better recorded.
World Distribution
Suboceanic Southern-temperate element.
© M. Cotterill, IWNHAS
Golden Hill
© M. Cotterill, IWNHAS
Mersley Down
© G. Toone, IWNHAS
Tennyson Down
© M. Cotterill, IWNHAS
Wootton
© G. Toone, IWNHAS
Broad Habitats
Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland
Light (Ellenberg): 5
Moisture (Ellenberg): 4
Reaction (Ellenberg): 8
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 5
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 4.2
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 16.1
Annual Precipitation (mm): 821
Height (cm): 80
Perennation - primary
Perennial
Life Form - primary
Hemicryptophyte
Woodiness
Herbaceous
Clonality - primary
Rhizome shortly creeping
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 728
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 0
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 14
Atlas Change Index: 1.47
Weighted Changed Factor: 54
Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)
17
JNCC Designations
NBNSYS0000002268
Atlas text references
Atlas (329b)
.
1996. Flora Britannica.
.
1981. The Iris.
Comment on Life Form