Iris Flowers
(Iris sp.)

Iris flowers open in the Spring shortly after daffodils and tulips. The Siberian iris flower shown in this short movie was filmed over the course of about 10 hours. Once the flower buds reach maturity, the base of the flower elongates to push the bud out from the sheath that surrounded it as it developes (this extension is partly visible in the first few movie frames on the top flower). Once extended, the flower opens. Iris flowers can remain open for a few days before dying.