Iris subg. Xiphium
| Iris subg. Xiphium | |
|---|---|
|   | |
| Close-up image of Iris xiphium | |
| Scientific classification   | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae | 
| Clade: | Tracheophytes | 
| Clade: | Angiosperms | 
| Clade: | Monocots | 
| Order: | Asparagales | 
| Family: | Iridaceae | 
| Genus: | Iris | 
| Subgenus: | (Miller) Spach | 
| Type species | |
| Iris xiphium | |
| Species | |
| See text | |
Subgenus Xiphium is a subgenus of Iris. If considered a separate genus from Iris, it is known as genus Xiphion.
The Latin specific epithet Xiphium refers to the Greek word for sword xiphos.[1]
All species in this subgenus are true bulbs, and are native to southwest Europe (southern Spain, Portugal and southern France) and northern Africa.[2]
Mainly known for the garden cultivars known as Dutch Iris, Spanish Iris and English Iris. They generally flower between early to mid-summer and each stem produces between 1 - 3 flowers. Most bulbs should be planted in late autumn, 10 cm deep and between 5–10 cm apart.[3]
Section Xiphium
| Image | Scientific name | Distribution | 
|---|---|---|
|  | Iris boissieri Henriq 1885 | Spain and Portugal | 
|  | Iris filifolia Boiss. 1842 | Morocco, Spain | 
| Iris juncea Poir. 1789 | Algeria, Tunisia Spain, Sicily | |
| .jpg) | Iris latifolia Mill. 1895 – English iris | France, Spain | 
| Iris rutherfordii M Rodriguez,P Vargas,M Carine and S Jury 2009 | Morocco | |
| Iris serotina Willk. in Willk. & Lange 1861 | Spain and Morocco. | |
| Iris tingitana Boiss. & Reut. 1852 – Morocco iris | Morocco, Algeria, Spain, Portugal. | |
| .jpg) | Iris xiphium L. 1753 | Corsica, France, Italy, Algeria and Tunisia | 
Horticultural hybrids
- Iris × hollandica (Spanish iris, Dutch iris)