Section Limniris is a group that has been recognized with few changes since Dykes 1913 monograph on the genus Iris.  As currently described it includes all rhizomatous Iris with sepals that lack beards and/or crests and is subdivided into 16 series.  The section that occurs throughout the range of the genus: Asia, North America and Europe, with one species extending into northern Africa.  While Iris are mostly plants of desert, semi-desert or rocky montane habitats, species from section Limniris often occur in mesic or wetland environments.

I am using four nucleotide sequence regions (trnL-F, matK, trnK and ITS) to explore relationships among a representative sample (about 80%) of the approximately 73 species within section Limniris.  My research is showing that section Limniris species do not form one lineage but instead are the result of at least five origins, with one of the five lineages representing most of the species currently placed within the section.  The goal of this study is to determine which of the 16 series should be included within section Limniris so that a more accurate taxonomic classification can be developed.