Iris subg. Xiphium

Subgenus Xiphium is a subgenus of Iris. If considered a separate genus from Iris, it is known as genus Xiphion.

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:	Iris subg. Xiphium (Miller) Spach
Type species
Iris xiphium
Species
See text

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
	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.
	Iris xiphium L. 1753	Corsica, France, Italy, Algeria and Tunisia

Horticultural hybrids

• Iris × hollandica (Spanish iris, Dutch iris)