Perennials with rather long narrow leaves, Irises and their relatives in Iradaceae have flowers of 3 sepals, 3 petals, and 3 stamens in line with the sepal. The flowers develop between a pair of substantial bracts. The petals and sepals are sometimes similar, sometimes different. The fruit-forming part of the pistil is below the petals and sepals.
Cultivated irises, crocuses, tigridias, freesias, and gladioli are all family members of Iridaceae. Wild members will also grow well in gardens, including Montara Mountain's two representatives, Iris douglasiana (Douglas's Iris) and Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue Eye Grass).
