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Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: INV-JED |
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IRIS , in botany. The iris flower belongs to the natural order Iridaceae
series ), being thus distinguished from the Amaryllidaceae family, which has six stamens. They are handsome showy-flowered plants, the Greek name having been applied on account of the hues of the flowers
flowers
pale -brown; they have been recommended when roasted as a substitute for coffee, of which, however, they have not the properties. The astringent rhizome has diuretic, purgative and emetic properties, and may, it is said, be used for dyeing black, and in the place of galls
Iris florentina, with white or pale -blue flowers, is a native of the south of Europe, and is the source of the violet-scented orris root used in perfumery. Iris versicolor, or blue flag, is indigenous to North America, and yields " iridin," a powerful hepatic stimulant. Iris germanica of central Europe, " the most common purple Fleur de Luce" of Ray, is the large common blue iris of gardens, the bearded iris or fleur de luce and probably the Illyrian iris of the ancients. From the flowers of Iris florentina a pigmentthe " verdelis," " vert d'iris," or iris-greefi,.,. formerly used by miniature painterswas prepared by maceration, the fluid being left to putrefy, when chalk or alum was added. The garden plants known as the Spanish iris and the English iris are both of Spanish origin, and have very showy flowers. Along with some other species, as I. reticulata and I. persica, both of which are fragrant, they form great
irises from the genus leis, and place them apart in the genus Xiphium, the Spanish iris, including about 30 species, all from the Mediterranean region and the East
The iris flower is of special
interest
flying insect
of perianth, three e with the stigmatic stamens in one whorl surface which is borne and an ovary formed on the outer face of of three carpels. The a shelf-like transverse th dots indicate the se e positiono of an projection on the inner whorl of FIG. I.Gynoecium under side of the stamens which is of Iris,consisting of an petaloid style-arm. present in the allied inferior ovary o, and a The anther, which families Amacea.- style, with three peta- daceae and Liliaceae told segments s,bearing opens towards the but absent in Irid- stigrgas st. outside, is sheltered aceae. beneath the over-arching style arm below the stigma, so that the insect
The hardier bulbous irises, including the Spanish iris (I. Xiphium) and the English iris (I. xi phioides, so called, which is also of Spanish origin), require to be planted in thoroughly drained beds in very light open soil, moderately enriched, and should have a rather sheltered position. Both these present a long series of beautiful varieties of the most diverse colours, flowering in May, June and July, the smaller Spanish iris being the earlier of the two. There are many other smaller species of bulbous iris. Being liable to perish from excess of moisture, they should have a well-drained bed of good but porous soil made up for them, in some sunny spot, and in winter should be protected by a 6-in. covering of half-decayed leaves or fresh coco-fibre refuse. To this set belong I. persica, reticulata, fclifolia, Hislrio, juncea, Danfordiae Rosenbachiatea and others which flower as early as February and March.The flag irises are for the most part of the easiest culture; they grow in any good free garden soil, the smaller and more delicate species only needing the aid of turfy ingredients, either peaty or loamy, to keep it light and open in texture. The earliest to bloom are the dwarfp forms of Iris pumila, which blossom during March, April and May; and during the latter month and the following one most of the larger growing species, such as I. germanica, florentina, pallida, variegata, amoena, flavescens, sambucina, neglecta, ruthenica, &c., produce their gorgeous flowers. Of many of the foregoing there are, besides the typical form, a considerable number of named garden varieties. Iris unguicularis (or stylosa) is a remarkable winter flowering species from Algeria, with sky-blue flowers blotched with yellow, produced at irregular intervals from November to March, the bleakest period of the year. The beautiful Japanese Iris Kaempferi (or I. laevigata) is of comparatively modern introduction, and though of a distinct type is equally beautiful with the better-known species. The outer segments are rather spreading than deflexed, forming an almost circular flower, which becomes quite so in some of the very remarkable duplex varieties, in which six of these broad segments are produced instead of three. Of this too there are numberless varieties cultivated under names. They require a sandy peat soil on a cool moist subsoil. What are known as Oncocyclus, or cushion irises, constitute a magnificent group of plants remarkable for their large, showy and beautifully marked flowers. Compared with other irises the " cushion " varieties are scantily furnished with narrow sickle-shaped leaves and the blossoms are usually borne singly on the stalks. The best-known kinds are atrofusca, Barnumae, Bismarckiana, Gatesi, Heylandiana, iberica, Lorteti, Haynei, lupine, Marine, meda, paradoxa, sari, sofarana and susianathe last-named being popularly called the " mourning " iris owing to the dark silveryappearance of its huge flowers. All these cushion irises are somewhat fastidious growers, and to be successful with them they must be planted rather shallow in very gritty well-drained soil. They should not be disturbed in the autumn, and after the leaves have withered the roots should be protected from heavy rains until growth starts again naturally. A closely allied group to the cushion irises are those known as Regelia, of which Korolkowi, Leichtlini and vaga are the best known. Some magnificent hybrids have been raised between these two groups, and a hardier and more easily grown race of garden irises has been produced under the name of Regelio-Cyclus. They are best planted in September or October in warm sunny positions, the rhizomes being lifted the following July after the leaves have withered. End of Article: IRIS If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
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