''Iris tuberosa'' (formerly ''Hermodactylus tuberosus'') is a species of tuberous flowering plant of the genus ''Iris (plant), Iris'', with the common names snake's-head, snake's-head iris, widow iris, black iris, or velvet flower-de-luce.

Distribution

A native of the Mediterranean region, it is found in the northern Mediterranean littoral and western Europe. It can be found in Albania, France, Greece, and Italy.

Cultivation

It is grown from tubers planted in the autumn. It grows best in full sun to partial shade, and requires well-drained soil. It can naturalise in grassy areas but grows well in rock gardens or containers.Paghat's Garden Paghat's Garden: Snake's-head or Widow Iris
/ref> It is a common ornamental garden plant, flowering in early spring. It is rather tender in the UK.Caledonian Horticultural Society, Edinburgh

Taxonomic history

After being split off from the genus ''Iris'' in the nineteenth century into a separate genus,
/ref> ''Hermodactylus'', it has most recently been returned to the genus ''Iris'',Pacific Bulb Society
/ref> following molecular studies at Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Kew.Tillie N, Chase MW, Hall T. 2002 Molecular studies in the genus Iris L.: a preliminary study. Ann. Bot. n.s. (Italy) 1. (2): 105–112 (2001)
/ref> According to the proposed molecular classification of irises of Tillie, Chase and Hall, this species is now best seen as a member of the subgenus ''Iris subg. Hermodactyloides, Hermodactyloides'', the reticulate-bulbed bulbous irises.

References

Bibliography

Telegraph: How to grow Hermodactylus
* * Goldblatt, P., (1990) Phylogeny and classification of Iridaceae. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 77:607-627. * Reeves, G., Chase, M.W., Goldblatt, P., Rudall, P., Fay, M.F., Cox, A.V., LeJeune, B., & Souza-Chies, T., (2001). Molecular systematics of Iridaceae: Evidence from four plastid DNA regions. Am. J. Bot. 88:2074-2087.

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q15572851, from2=Q50841884, from3=Q5231028 Iris (plant), tuberosa