Iris pseudacorus (kent as seg, seggan, seggie, or horse-gleddenin) is a species in the genus Iris, o the faimily Iridaceae. It is native tae Europe, wastren Asie an northwast Africae.
It is an yerbaceous flouerin perennial plant, growin tae 1-1.5 m (or a rare 2 m) taw, wi erect leafs up tae 90 cm lang an 3 cm braid. The flouers is bricht yellae, 7-10 cm athort, wi the typical iris fairm. The fruit is a dry capsule 4-7 cm lang, containin numerous fauch broun seeds.
I. pseudacorus grows baist in vera weet condeetions, an is aften common in wetlands, where it tolerates submersion, law pH, an anoxic soils. The plant skails swith, bi baith rhizome an watter-dispersed seed. It fills a seimilar niche tae that o Typha an aften grows wi it, though uisually in shallower watter. While it is primarily an aquatic plant, the rhizomes can survive prolonged dry condeetions.
Lairge I. pseudacorus staunds in wastren Scotland fairm a vera important feedin an breedin habitat for the endangered Corn Craik.
I. pseudacorus is ane o twa iris species native tae the Unitit Kinrick, the ither bein Iris foetidissima (Stinkin iris).
It is widely planted in temperate regions as an ornamental plant, wi several cultivars selectit for bog gairden plantin. The follaein cultivars haes gained the Ryal Horticultural Society's Awaird o Gairden Merit:-
In some regions, it haes escaped frae cultivation tae establish itsel as an invasive aquatic plant that can create dense, monotypic staunds, ootcompetin ither plants in the ecoseestem. Whaur it is invasive, it is teuch tae remuive on a lairge scale. Even pleuchin the rhizomes is aften feckless. It haes been banned in some auries but is still widely sellt in ithers for uise in gairdens.
The rhizome haes historically been uised as an yerbal remedy, maist aften as an emetic. Whan applied tae the skin or inhaled, the tannin-rich juices can be acrid an irritatin.
This plant haes been uised as a fairm o watter treatment syne it has the ability tae tak up hivy metals through its ruits.
Closeup
Iris pseudacorus
Iris pseudacorus
Iris pseudacorus
Fruit
Iris pseudacorus (kent as seg, seggan, seggie, or horse-gleddenin) is a species in the genus Iris, o the faimily Iridaceae. It is native tae Europe, wastren Asie an northwast Africae.
