Along damp ditches and riverbanks, in marshes and bogs, around lakes and ponds, this handsome plant shows its large, bright yellow flowers from June to August. The large blooms (8-10cm) are unmistakeable. In clusters of twos and threes, each flower has three erect standard petals below which there are three petals which curve downwards. The lower petals are beautifully marked with purple veins leading into the mouth. The sword-shaped tall leaves have prominent ribs and rise from the base. In autumn the seedpods are large, three-segmented capsules which contain numerous seeds. This is a native plant belonging to the family Iridaceae.
I first identified this plant in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow in 1976 and photographed it in Gibletstown, Co Wexford in 1995.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
