members of iridaceae occur in a great variety of habitats. about the only place they do not grow is in the sea itself, although gladiolus gueinzii occurs on the seashore just above the high tide mark within reach of the spray. most species are adapted to seasonal climates that have a pronounced dry or cold period unfavourable for plant growth and during which the plants dormant. as a result, most species are deciduous. evergreen species are restricted to subtropical forests or savannah, temperate grasslands and perennially moist fynbos. a few species grow in marshes or along streams and some even grow only in the spray of seasonal waterfalls.