Spanish nut, Barbary nut
Gynandriris sisyrinchium

Family: Iridaceae

What it is like

A low plant which has a corm. It keeps growing from year to year. There are few leaves. Often there are only 1-2 leaves. They are deep green and have channels. They are 5-8 mm wide and often longer than the flower stem. There are up to 4 pairs of bracts. Each enclose several flowers. They are papery. The flowers are 22-40 mm long and bluish-lilac. The flowers only last a short time from midday until evening. The flowers are like iris with a white or yellow patch on the falls. The ovary has a slender solid neck. This is 20-30 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in cultivated and waste places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Root, nuts, corm, bulb

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

çayır kılıçotu

Synonyms

Iris sisyrinchium;