Gladdon (Iris foetidissima)

The stinking iris, or gladdon, has started flowering for the first time in Medlar Wood.

Although quite large the flowers are easily overlooked and are sometimes blue rather that yellow.

These plants are bird sown from the medlar tree above and the flowers will, in winter, be followed by fat pods of red berries.

I have never heard what I would regard as a satisfactory explanation of its name 'stinking iris' as no p[art of it seems to smell of anything much.

The attractive plant bug Grypocoris stysi crept out on to one the standards as I stood admiring this plant.