Blueflag Iris Duo (Iris virginica)  Native to North America. (seen from above) One of the signature species of the
Prairie, flowering as a kind of wonderfully delicate upbeat to Summer Solstice.

Notice the remarkable flower structure  -- in three groups of three: (1) 3 sepals (the colorful ones
to attract pollinators: In the original Greek, iris means of course rainbow!); (2) 3 petals; and  
(3) 3 petal-like branches of the style or female part of the flower: these cover the male stamens
to prevent self-pollination. 



(Photograph was made Sunday, the 9th of June, 2002)