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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) |
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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 |
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Description and Ethnobotany
Growth Form | Perennial herb forms large clumps up to 0.9 m tall. |
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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 |
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Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting |
Plant Care and Propagation
Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
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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 |
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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 |
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Image Repository
Others
Master ID | 966 |
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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. |