The iris blossom is unique in its shape , revered as a symbol of royal line in France , the fleur - de - lis . Parts of the blossom are always in multiples of three . In general , three upright flower petal are called the " standards " and the three horizontal or drooping petal are forebode the " falls " . Slight mutation occurs on this generalisation between beardless and crested irises .
Bearded Iris
The bearded iris flower is comprised of three ruffled and oval petals that are arrest upright in the center , address the " standard " . Just outside the standard are three big additional petals that commonly droop or flex rearwards called the " falls " . Upon each fall petal is a yellowy cluster of manlike prime parts that shed pollen , called the " face fungus " . In the central core of the flower , part hidden by the banner is the female flowered constituent , the dash arms , that are firm and waxy , often fragrant . Within the panache arms are the stigmas , where pollen is received and fertilizes the ovaries to after form seeds .
barbate or German bearded iris , in all their classifications , expose this flower type .
Beardless Iris
Beardless iris also has floral part in multiple of three , the chief deviation when liken with bearded iris is the deficiency of the beard as well as smaller , more open petals .
Three spread out , glossa - similar petals are the " standards " . Just inside the banner are three low rippled style arms that put up the female flowered component part . Below the style sleeve , and outside the standards are the three larger sized " falls " , which have a hero sandwich - alike banding of colour scream the " signal " . In both the standard and fall petals , the lower part of the flower petal narrow into a shoulder - like area known as the " haft " .
Examples of beardless type include Siberian and Louisiana sword lily .
Crested Iris
or else of a beard , cap sword lily have a crown or ridgeline on each of the falls .
In the core of the blossom are three waxy mode arm that often have jagged edges . Immediately under the style arm are the " standards " . These three standards are unremarkably unvarying in color and texture and often have a serrate or lobed end . Finally , under the standard petals lay the slightly orotund and more flowery " falls " . The falls , also number three , have minutely jagged edges and in their center is crown or ridge of tissue where the " haft " , or constrict neck of the fall , occurs .
Evansia iris is another name for a tufted iris , and a plebeian example is the midget crest iris , Iris cristata .
