Dietes iridioides (L.) Sweet. ex Klatt

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Bunga Forest, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Campsite, Chirinda Forest

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Estate, Stapleford

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Synonyms:	Dietes prolongata (Baker) N.E. Br. Dietes vegeta sensu N.E. Br. Moraea iridioides L.
Common names:	Wild iris (English)
Frequency:	Locally common
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial herb. Old inflorescences sometimes form branches with a cluster of new leaves, which will ultimately take root and form a new plant. This vegetative mode of reproduction may result in the forming of small colonies of this species on the forest floor.
Notes:	The flowers are very shortlived, usually lasting no longer than half a day.
Derivation of specific name:	iridioides: resembling an Iris.
Habitat:	On forest floors, sometimes in deep shade.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Aug - Nov (-Feb)
Worldwide distribution:	Eastern DRC, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	C,E,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Monday 6 February 2012
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 72. (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 206 - 207. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 21. Goldblatt, P. (1993). Iridaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(4) Pages 8 - 10. (Includes a picture). Goldblatt, P. (1996). Iridaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 11 - 13. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 92. Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 11 - 12. As Dietes vegeta (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 115. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Page 110. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 110. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 83.

Other sources of information about Dietes iridioides:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Dietes iridioides
Flora of Mozambique: Dietes iridioides
Flora of Zambia: Dietes iridioides

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Dietes iridioides
African Plant Database: Dietes iridioides
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Dietes iridioides
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Dietes iridioides
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Dietes iridioides
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Dietes iridioides
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Dietes iridioides
JSTOR Plant Science: Dietes iridioides
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Dietes iridioides
Plants of the World Online: Dietes iridioides
Tropicos: Dietes iridioides
Wikipedia: Dietes iridioides