|
State Symbols
|
|
|
|
Official state symbols represent the cultural heritage
and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States |
|
| |
Michigan Symbols
|
|
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
|
|
|
|
Michigan State Wild Flower
Dwarf Lake Iris
(Iris lacustris)
Adopted in 1998.
In 1998, the Dwarf Lake Iris, Iris lacustris, was designated
as the state wildflower. Native to the state, the endangered flower grows
along the northern shorelines of Lakes Michigan and Huron.
Description
Dwarf lake iris is a miniature iris with
showy, deep blue flowers. The flowers are about 1 to 1 2 inches in width and
1 2 to 2 2 inches in height and are born singly on stems less than 2 inches
tall. Leaves are up to 6 inches long and 2" wide and are flattened,
sword-like, and arranged in fan-shaped clusters. Although flowers are
usually blue, lilac or white flowers are sometimes found.
Range
Dwarf lake iris only grows around the Great Lakes and occurs
near the northern shores of Lakes Huron and Michigan in Michigan, Wisconsin,
and Ontario, Canada.
Habitat
This miniature iris grows nowhere else in the world but in
the Great Lakes Region. Most of the world's Dwarf Lake Iris population lies
within Michigan's boundaries. Occurring close to Great Lakes shorelines in
cool, moist lakeshore air, dwarf lake iris is found on sand or in thin soil
over limestone-rich gravel or bedrock. Habitat is along old beach ridges or
behind open dunes. Changing water levels can open new habitat for the
plants.
Reproduction
Dwarf lake iris is a low-growing perennial with
shallow, slender, creeping rhizomes which produce new fans of leaves at
their nodes. It flowers mostly in semi-open habitats with partial sun. Seeds
are rounded capsules about 2 inch long. Flowers appear from mid-May to early
June.
|
|
State Symbols
|
|
|
State symbols represent things that are special to a
particular state.
symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun
Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in
other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token
of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together,
compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century
1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or
convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.
|
|
|
| |
|
