Anatomy of a Bearded Iris

An iris is composed of distinct floral and vegetative structures, each playing an important role in the plant’s growth, reproduction, and appearance.

Standards - The upright petals at the top of the bloom. Standards often provide contrast in color or tone and help define many classic iris color patterns.
Falls - The three downward-arching petals beneath the standards. Falls typically display the most dramatic color, markings, veining, or patterning on the flower.
Beard (bearded irises) - A soft, fuzzy strip of hairs located along the center of each fall. The beard often contrasts in color and serves as a visual and physical guide for pollinators.
Style Arms - Petal-like structures that arch over the falls. They protect the reproductive organs and are often mistaken for petals.
Stigma - Located beneath the tip of each style arm, the stigma receives pollen during fertilization.
Anthers - Structures that produce and release pollen, typically found beneath the style arms.

Stalk - (Flower Stem)The vertical stem that supports the bloom and developing buds.
Spathe - A protective, leaf-like sheath that encloses the developing iris bud before it opens. As the bud matures, the spathe splits or opens to allow the flower to emerge and often dries to a papery texture after bloom.
Bud - An unopened flower enclosed within the spathe. Multiple buds may form along a single stalk, allowing for sequential blooming.
Spent Bloom - A flower that has finished blooming and is beginning to fade or dry.

Leaves - (Fans)Sword-shaped leaves that grow in a fan arrangement from the rhizome. Each fan represents a growth point capable of producing blooms.
Rhizome - A thick, horizontal underground stem from which leaves, roots, and new growth emerge. Rhizomes store energy and allow irises to spread and multiply.
Roots - Fibrous structures extending from the underside of the rhizome that anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients.