Dear all; When is an iris a geophyte? Like many plant groups-Families, genera etc. some members have root or stem or similar storage organs (bulbs, corms and rhizomes), but not ALL members of that family or genus. A few Pelargonium are good geophytes but certainly not all are worth this discussion list. Same for Berberidaceae, and the same for Iris. More than half the genus have good underground storage organs, but some have rhizomes that are mere pencil lead width and really fit into the category of herbaceous perennial better than bulbous plant. There's plenty of good bulbous and rhizomateous Iris to discuss- Junos, Dutch, Reticulata, Oncocyclus etc. and that deserve our attention. One elusive topic that the genus in fact shows very fleetingly is the evolution from non-geophytic to rhizomateous to bulbous species. There is a very odd species call Iris anguifuga (The Snake Bane Iris) that grows and looks like a skinny spuria, but underground it is doing odd things. It is evergreen all winter (even here), but really expands its foliage and grows new fans in spring, blooming about the end of April/early May. If you dig it up you will find a almost woody rhizome about 3/4 inch in diameter. After bloom it goes totally dormant all summer only to emerge in Oct or so. If you dig the plant just as it is beginning to grow, you will find an underground structure that looks very much like a typical bulb, but with a withered 'tail' (last spring's rhizome). I don't know what it does in mid-summer or winter when it seems to change form, but is one of the few plants I can think of that are seasonal bulbs/ seasonal rhizomes. It is also the only Iris with a single bract beneath the terminal flower. Altogether an oddity in the genus. Incidentaly the name derives from its odd life cycle. Chinese tradition says that this iris keeps snakes out of your garden. By growing all winter, it keeps the snakes away, but in spring when it blooms, then weakens and goes dormant it can no longer help and snakes come back into the garden. By fall the iris has regained strength, emerges again and chases snakes away (anquifuga means "snake chaser') Of course the snakes annual hibernation is just a coincidence -or is it? The rhizome is ground and used as both a poultice and an herbal medicine for snake bite. It is frequently planted around the edges of home herb and vegetable gardens. Works for me. Best Jim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 E-fax 419-781-8594 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +