By David A. Crichton
from the Australian Horticultural Magazine and Garden Guide
Vol 2 No 12 Melbourne December 1878 pp 265 –269
This is a genus of very beautiful herbaceous perennial plants, many of them being well known popular garden flowers. It is the type of the natural order Iridaceae, and embraces a large number of species, which are widely dispersed.
The name is generally supposed to be derived from iris, the eye, an allusion to the beauty and variety of colour found in the flowers. According to the old writers, however, it was named Iris by the ancients, in honour of the attendant upon Juno. This goddess, we are told by mythological writers, descended upon a rainbow and was clothed in its many colours, all of which are to be found in the genus.
The Iris has been a popular flower from the earliest times, and there are few plants more celebrated in the writings of the ancient historians and poets. By the early Greeks the common flag Iris (generally known as the flag Lilly ) was regarded as the symbol of eloquence, and the Egyptians carved it upon the brow of the Sphynx for the same reason.
The ancients made use of some of the species as food, and several were employed for medicinal purposes.
From a very early time the Iris has been represented on the national escutcheon of France, under the name of the Fluer de lis. It is said that one of the Kings of France, in the eleventh century, having been excommunicated by the Pope, in order to make peace between them again, decided to join the Crusaders. As was the custom in those times, each leader had a blazon upon his shield, and he choose the Iris. From this circumstance it was called the Fluer de Louis and afterwards Flue de Luse. Late still the name was corrupted to Fluer de lis , or the lilly flower, though the plant has no affinity to the Lilly.
Edward the third added the Fluer de lis to the arms of England where it remained till the union with Ireland, in 1800, when it was replaced by the Shamrock. During the first revolution of France, the Fluer de lis was proscribed, and many were put to death for wearing it. Whenever it appeared upon the public buildings of Paris and other French towns, it was defaced by the populace. When the first Napoleon attained power, he substituted a Bee for the Fleur de lis, but the latter was afterwards restored to its previous position.
The Iris was cultivated in England
previous to the sixteen century being described by the early writers of
gardening under the name of Floure de Lyce, and afterwards Floure de
Luce.
It has always been a popular flower in that country, and the common varieties are to be found in nearly every garden. The roots of several species were used for medicinal purposes and from the petals of some a blue dye was extracted.
In modern medicine the root of I. Versicolor, a North American species is sometimes employed as a cathartic and diuretic , but requires to be given with great care as it is apt to cause distressing nausea and prostration of strength. The rhizomes of I pseud-acorus
( the yellow water flag of England) possess acrid, purgative, and emetic properties.
It is so powerfully astringent
that it is sometimes used as a substitute for galls in making ink.
Formerly it was considered to be very useful as a styptic, in cases if persons
spitting or vomiting blood. The dry roots of I. Florentina have a
perfume like violets, and were formerly in great demand. In commerce they are known as Orris roots;
are chewed to sweeten foul breath, and are employed in the manufacture of tooth
and hair powder. Formerly the root was
considered a good specific for lung diseases, and extensively employed for
flavouring medicine. The blue petals of
the common flag Iris were at one time employed for obtaining a colouring matter
used in water colour painting, and for other purposes. For this purpose the petals were gathered before the flowers were fully
expanded. They were then pounded by a
mortar, macerated for several days in glass vessels, and then exposed to heat
over a brisk fire. The roots of this kind were also at one time generally used
to prevent wine or beer from getting stale, being suspended in the casks. They
were also considered to impart a pleasant flavour to either wine or beer.
There are a great many species and varieties of the Iris family in cultivation, most of which are hardy and will adapt themselves to various soils and situations. Among the different kinds nearly every colour is represented, and many are beautifully marked and spotted. They are exceedingly ornamental and very effective either in the miscellaneous borders or in masses by themselves.
Though most of the kinds can be easily grown, they vary in their requirements to a certain extent, some doing best in moist situations, and others in ground that is rather dry. Some also thrive best in a light sandy loam, while other require rich soil to bring them to perfection. The sword leaved kinds are the most hardy, generally speaking, and the bulbous sorts the more delicate. Propagation is easily effected in the case of all except the bulbous varieties by dividing the roots, which with care may be done at any time but the autumn and early spring are the most favourable periods.
The bulbous kind increase by offsets which should be taken off in early spring. Most of the species seed freely and many be easily propagated by this means. The seed should be sown as soon as ripe in light rich soil, covering it half an inch deep. When the young plants are two to three inches high they should be planted out in small beds, leaving sufficient space between for free development. The next season they should be planted out where the plants are to bloom, which they will usually do the second year.
Clumps of several plants are as a rule, more effective than single plant, and these may be allowed to remain for several years without being disturbed. It will not however, be advisable to leave them for too long a period as when such is the case the flowers deteriorate through the over crowding of the roots.
There are an immense number of species and varieties in cultivation, and most of them are worthy of a place in any garden. The following is a list of some of the most interesting and popular species, and though not embracing all that are worth cultivating , affords ample scope for making a good selection.
v I. amoena An early blooming species, embracing several varieties from Hungary. The flowers are white and blue and very pretty.
v I. aurea A German species with a very bright deep yellow showy flowers. Thrives best in a moist situation.
v I. cristata This is a charming little North American species, of very dwarf habit growing from four to six inches high, with broad leaves. The flowers are small, in colour a delicate light blue, richly marked with purple. Does well in rather poor shallow soil and is suited for rock gardens.
v I. dichotoma (The afternoon Iris) A species form Dauria, interesting from the fact that it blossoms never expand till the afternoon; hence the common name. In its native country it goes by the name of the scissor plant, on account of the flowers being supported by forked stems. The flowers are light blue small and produced on slender stems.
v I. flavescens This species , a native of the south of Europe, has beautiful pale straw coloured flowers.
v I. florentina This is an old and popular species from the south of Europe with white handsome flowers. It embraces several varieties, varying in colour from white to blue.
v I. germanica A popular species from Germany with large blue flowers and broad sword like leaves. It now embraces a large number of beautiful varieties of nearly every shade of colour. The common Flag Lily of our gardens is the original type of this species. All the varieties are hardy and may be grown with a little trouble in almost any soil and situation.
v I. kempferi or levigata (The Japan Flag Lilly) This is a vigorous species producing an abundance of bright blue flowers and having beautiful vivid green foliage.
v I. monnieri This is a species from Greece, which bears very large brilliant yellow flowers. It is very ornamental and thrives best in a moist situation.
v I. nudicaulis A species from the south of Europe with bright blue flowers. There are several varieties, differing in colours and markings, including some with double flowers.
v I. ochroleuca This species is a native of the Levant, and bears pale yellow flowers on tall stems. The leaves have a yellowish tinge running through them.
v I. persica From Persia, his is a popular species of dwarf habit, with strongly scented blue and white flowers, which are produced very early in the season. There are a number of beautiful varieties, embracing nearly every shade of colour and most of them posses a delicious fragrance.
v I. plicata A pretty species from the south of Europe, with blue and white beautifully veined flowers.
v I. pseud-acorus (The water Flag Lilly) This is a well known species, with large yellow flowers, indigenous to British and other parts of Europe. It is an aquatic plant and is suitable for planting around the margins of ponds, lakes or streams.
v I. pumila An Austrian species of very dwarf habit seldom exceeding eight or nine inches in height, with bright purple flowers. It embraces several varieties, with flowers ranging in colour from deep blue to red, very ornamental and thrives best in a moist and shady situation.
v I. reticulata (The Netted iris) This is a Spanish species that is very popular. It has beautiful bright blue flowers, with a deep yellow blotch, the whole being veined and spotted with purple. There are a number of varieties, differing in colours and markings, and all have deliciously scented flowers.
v I. siberica A pretty species from Siberia, with handsome light blue flowers. There are several varieties including some with double flowers.
v I. Susiana (The Chalcedonican Iris) This is a very beautiful and popular species which derives its name form Susi in Persia, of which country it is a native. The flowers are very large the petals being striped with black upon a white ground, and beautifully reticulated. The shade of black is so deep and the white so distinct that this species has also been known as the Mourning Iris.
v I. Variegata A handsome species from Hungary with a striped white and blue flower.
v I. Xiphoides ( The English Iris) This is a beautiful and popular bulbous species, with large handsome blue and yellow flowers. Though called the English Iris it is a native of Spain. It also goes by the name of the Great Bulbous –rooted Iris.
v I. Xiphium (The Spanish Iris) This species as the common name implies, is a native of Spain. It is bulbous and bears handsome blue and yellow flowers, not so large as those of I. xipiodes. This species is also known as the Small Bulbous rooted Iris.