Irises of the series Hexagonae are native to the eastern United States, along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains and into the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. Various taxonomic treatments have been proposed over the decades, recognizing three to dozens of species. Species diversity of the commonly recognized species is highest in Louisiana, hence the term “Louisiana iris” to refer to the member of this series. However, there has been considerable disagreement over the taxonomic treatment of forms of the most broadly distributed coastal taxon Iris hexagona sensu lato, and Florida may well support the highest genetic diversity for this group. Under the interpretation of a single species, Iris hexagona historically occurred from South Carolina through Texas and throughout most of the Florida peninsula. Other authorities have recognized additional taxa in this species complex, including potential species savannarum, kimballiae, rivularis from Florida and giganticaerulea from Louisiana and Texas. Previous studies have identified genetic differentiation between “highland” and “coastal” forms of savanarrum in Florida. Iris hexagona sensu stricto is thought to be extremely rare in the wild in South Carolina and Georgia and to occur in only a few counties in Florida. Resolving the taxonomic relationships and distribution of genetic diversity within this group is important for identifying targets for in situ protection as well as proper management of ex situ populations for reintroduction. 

Our goal is to identify funding to:

• assess the genetic diversity and taxonomic relationships among the clones currently in the Society for Louisiana Iris- Species Preservation Project collection in the context of analyzed wild populations. 

• Continue to collect genetic data from wild populations throughout the range to compare with published Florida data..