The Iris and the Lily are both beautiful flowers that belong to the same kinsfolk , but there are some fundamental differences that set them apart . As a gardening and landscaping expert , I have had the delight of work out with both these flowers and observing their trenchant characteristics . rent me share with you the elaborated differences between an Iris and a Lily .

1 . visual aspect : When it come to appearance , the flowers of the Iris and the Lily may seem exchangeable at first glimpse . They both have vivacious and showy efflorescence that come in a variety of colour . However , if you take a closer flavour , you will discover some distinct feature . The Iris flush have three upright petals know as standards and three downward - curving petals called falls . In line , the Lily flowers have six petal arranged in a symmetrical pattern , with three petal face upward and three flower petal facing downward .

2 . Leaf Arrangement : One of the most obtrusive differences between Irises and Lilies is their leaf arrangement . fleur-de-lis have fan - like leaves that all lay together at the base of the plant in a 2-dimensional plane . This gives them a neat and organized appearance . On the other hand , Lilies have long , slight leaf that grow along the stem , jump in a spiral pattern . The leaf arrangement of Lilies is more scattered and less uniform compared to the Irises .

3 . Stamens : Another key feature of speech between Irises and Lilies is the number of stamen they have . Stamens are the male procreative parts of the peak that bring about pollen . Irises have three stamens , while lily have six stamen . This difference in stamen count is a helpful characteristic to identify and tell between the two flowers .

4 . Diversity : In full term of diversity , Irises are the winners . Worldwide , there are about 70 genus and around 1,800 species of Irises . This wide of the mark multifariousness of Irises allows for a range of colours , sizes , and growing preferences . On the other hand , Lilies have fewer specie and are generally more limited in full term of variety .

5 . ethnic Significance : Both Irises and Lilies hold cultural significance in different parts of the world . Irises are peculiarly associated with Hellenic mythology , where they were trust to be the flowers of the rainbow goddess , Iris . In contrast , lily have been revered for centuries and are often associated with purity , sinlessness , and beauty . They are usually used in spiritual ceremonies and are extremely emblematic in many acculturation .

While Irises and lily may share some similarities in their appearance , there are several fundamental differences that set them apart . The folio arrangement , stamen count , diversity , and ethnic significance all bestow to their unique characteristic . As a gardening and landscape gardening expert , I find joy in exploring and appreciating the distinctions between these two beautiful flowers .

Caroline Bates