Iris Ensata

Japanese iris, known to the Japanese as “Hana-shohbu”, undoubtedly derives from Iris ensata Thunb. var spontanea (Makino) Nakai (syn.: I. kaempferii), which is a native not only of Japan, but also of Korea, northern China, and eastern Siberia. ^{3 , 6} The flowers of the wild form are usually red-purple, ranging from purple to violet, and are simple in shape, with 3 drooping falls and narrow erect standards. This plant has rhizomes (subgenus Iris) and belongs to the beardless and apogon iris group. ^{1 , 5}