Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 11, 2026

Irideae

Irideae is a tribe included in the well-known family Iridaceae. It contains many species in five genera which are widely distributed in the Old World. The tribe derives its name from Iris, which is the largest genus of the tribe.

Last revised
Jul 11, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
198 w
Citations
1
Source
Irideae
Dietes bicolor
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Irideae
Kitt.
Genera

See text

Iris milesii source ↗

Irideae is a tribe included in the well-known family Iridaceae. It contains many species in five genera which are widely distributed in the Old World. The tribe derives its name from Iris, which is the largest genus of the tribe.

The blooms, borne in an inflorescence and often scented, have six petals, these being identical only in the genus Ferraria. The ovary is 3-locular and contains seeds which are usually circular and pellet-like. Members of the tribe bear typically sword-shaped leaves and the rootstock is usually rhizome or corm. Only two subgenera of Iris have bulbs. These are Xiphium and Hermodactyloides.

Many of the species are popular ornamental plants, but many are threatened with extinction.

List of genera:1

References

References

  1. Goldblatt, Peter; Rodriguez, Aaron; Powell, M. P.; Davies, Jonathan T.; Manning, John C.; van der Bank, M.; Savolainen, Vincent (2008). "Iridaceae 'Out of Australasia'? Phylogeny, Biogeography, and Divergence Time Based on Plastid DNA Sequences". Systematic Botany. 33 (3): 495–508. doi:10.1600/036364408785679806. ISSN 0363-6445.