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Neomarica gracilis
| Family Name: | Iridaceae |
| Common Name: | Apostle Plant, Apostle's Iris, Walking Iris |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Maximum Height | 0.6 m to 0.9 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.6 m to 0.9 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Mexico to Brazil |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Perennial herb forms large clumps up to 0.9 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Linear, erect leaves are 0.5 to 0.9 m long and emerge from the soil in a clump. They are soft and flexible, gracefully bending backwards near the tip. |
| Stems | This plant often lacks a stem. |
| Flowers | Iris-like flowers are white and blue with flower parts in threes. The petal-like, heart- to egg-shaped sepals are white with brown bands near the base. The smaller petals are bright blue with white streaks and the tip is curled backwards. Flowers only last for about a day, but new blooms are continually produced over a long period of time. |
| Cultivation | This species looks attractive when grown in mass plantings. It grows best in moist, but well-drained soils and is sensitive to drought stress. |
| Etymology | This species, along with other members of the Neomarica genus, is known as the Walking Iris. After a flower fades, the floral stalk bends to the ground and a new plantlet is formed at the tip. Through this method, the plant spreads to new locations, as if it was walking across a space. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Division, Aerial Plantlet |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Purple, Blue |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 966 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2260 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
