Unknown Iris

[John85]

Looks very much like an ordinary "germanica" but is flowering every year begin february
Dark blue  , white beard with a bit of orange
Could it be a hybrid with unguicularis or is that impossible?

[Maggi Young]

Wow! I have  no idea if  such a  hybrid  is  possible  - how  interesting!

 

[David Nicholson]

Looks very much like an ordinary "germanica" but is flowering every year begin february
Dark blue  , white beard with a bit of orange
Could it be a hybrid with unguicularis or is that impossible?

Picture would be useful?

[WSGR]

Yes, a pic would be very helpful!

[John85]

I have been told that it could be iris unguicularis var cephalonica but i can't find any information about this variety

[Maggi Young]

Seems iIris unguicularis var cephalonica is not  a  valid  name -  perhaps  just  a  variety of Iris unguicularis cretensis ?
 But  is the  foliage  more  like  germanica  or  unguicularis?  ( Difficult  for you  with no camera, I  understand  that!)
 

[John85]

Indeed Maggi my camera is a non digital one
Var cretensis is a dwarf one and this plant is about 45 cm(1 1/2')high
Foliage is large than the usual unguicularis but not as large as a germanica
Also if I remember well unguicularis as only one flower per stem
This plant as two

[Maggi Young]

John85 got  a  friend to photograph the  flower and here  it is ....



I cannot  say I see  any  signs  of  hybrid blood  there. 

[arilnut]

I would guess it is an I. aphylla.

John B

[fermi de Sousa]

The New Zealand hybrid 'Wanganui Gem' is very early flowering here. Could it have made it's way to the UK?
cheers
fermi

[John85]

Isn't Aphylla flowering much later?
This plant is flowering since begin february
The lady who gave me the Iris brought it back from Portugal

[John85]

I wonder if it could be Iris subbiflora

[LucS]

I wonder if it could be Iris subbiflora

This is a good possibility.
Iris subbiflora is growing in Portugal.  Leaves are more or less evergreen and the flowerstem can reach 40-50 cm.
The flower looks like a big iris lutescens.

[Tom Waters]

The extra bud (branch?) partway down the stem makes I. subbiflora unlikely. The spathes seem inflated, like they are in I. aphylla. It could also easily be an old garden hybrid or a "germanica" type. A photo showing the whole stem, as well as height information, would be helpful.

[Armin]

Hi all,
the image from John reminds me of I. (pallida ssp.) llyrica of croatia. Flowing height approx. 40cm, flowering time April to May. 
Of course not matching with Portugal and Feb. flowering...