Conservation Volunteers Document Critically Imperilled Iris on Pelee Island
Within Canada, the critically imperilled Lamance Iris is found only in Ontario. Known by many names, including the Zigzag Iris or Leafly Blue Flag, this native iris is considered endangered in two states in the U.S., and rare in many others. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) lists the Lamance Iris as a high priority candidate for assessment as a species at risk.
The Lamance Iris can grow 25 to 30 centimetres high and has a beautiful blue, lavender or white flower with dark veins and yellow patches on the sepals. The stem of the iris is somewhat zig-zag in shape, inspiring one of its common names, and has long, glossy leaves.
The Lamance Iris grows in the Mixedwood Plains ecozone of Canada and prefers moist, shaded woods, but will also grow in swamps, prairies and meadows. The flowers bloom from May to June and attract bumblebees and other pollinators such as hummingbirds. Bumblebees easily transfer pollen as they collect nectar from the iris while hummingbirds must use their head to push back the iris' petals in order to gain access to the nectar. Pollen is then transferred on a hummingbird's forehead.
Efforts from a recent bioblitz conducted on Pelee Island documented a patch of the rare iris which had been known about but never recorded. The population was documented by volunteers from the Natural Heritage Information Centre and Ministry of the Environment who were working alongside NCC staff at this Conservation Volunteers event. This population is Canada's largest known. NCC will include management details for this species in long-term stewardship planning for Pelee Island, including ongoing monitoring of this population.
The Dwarf Lake Iris is another rare iris found on some of NCC's protected areas on the Northern Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. It is a globally rare species restricted to the coast of the Great Lakes and is both a federal and provincial species at risk.
You can help NCC protect and manage rare species like the Lamance Iris. To find out how please call Marnie Wellwood at 1-800-465-0029, extension 263 or email ontario@natureconservancy.ca.
References:
COSEWIC. 2005. The COSEWIC Vascular Plants Candidate List [online]. Accessed 25 August 2008.
Evergreen. 2008. Evergreen Native Plant Database: Iris brevicaulis [online]. Accessed 25 August 2008.
Martin, N.H., Bouck, A.C. and Arnold, M.L. 2006. Detecting adaptive trait introgression between Iris fulva and I. brevicaulis in highly selective field conditions. Genetics. 172: 2481-2489.
NHIC. 2008. General Element Report: Iris brevicaulis [online]. Accessed 25 August 2008.
University of Texas. 2007. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre: Iris brevicaulis [online]. Accessed 25 August 2008.
USDA. 2008. Plants Database: Iris brevicaulis [online]. Accessed 25 August 2008.
Wesselingh, R.A. and Arnold, M.L. 2000. Pollinator behaviour and the evolution of Louisiana iris hybrid zones. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 13: 171-180.
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