Iridaceae

The iridaceae (Iridaceae) are a family of perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants belonging to the order Asparagales within the monocotyledons. The family, whose name derives from the genus Iris, has more than 2000 species that are distributed throughout almost the entire world, being one of the most important families in horticulture. Genera such as Crocus and Iris are prominent components of the floras of various regions of Eurasia, and Iris is well represented in North America. Gladiolus and Moraea are very large genera and major components of the sub-Saharan and South African flora. Sisyrinchium, with more than 140 species, is the most diversified genus of iridaceae in the Americas, where several other members of the family are also found, many of which are important in tropical floriculture.

Currently, 66 genera are recognized, distributed among seven subfamilies and occupying a wide variety of habitats. Most species are adapted to seasonal climates that have a period of pronounced dryness or cold unfavorable for plant growth and during which plants remain dormant. For this reason, most of the iridaceae are deciduous since their aerial parts (leaves and stems) dry up when the bulb or corm enters torpor or dormancy. Plants like this survive periods that are not favorable for growth by taking refuge under the ground. Evergreen iridaceae species are restricted to subtropical forests and savannahs, temperate grasslands, and moist fynbos.

Description

Earrings in Neomarica longifolia.

Detail of the flower Sisyrinchium bellum; note that in this species both cycles of teapals are similar.

Neomarica northiana is a species that shows many differences in the size and shape of the two cycles of teapals.

Watsonia pyramidataTake the tubular choir.

Gladiolus illyricus, a European species with zigomorphic flowers.

Iridaceae are generally herbaceous and perennial plants, rarely annuals or woody shrubs with abnormal secondary growth. The foliage can be maintained all year or it can dry out in some season and then regrow, so the iridaceae can be evergreen or deciduous. Exceptionally, as is the case of Geosiris, they do not have chlorophyll since the members of this genus are saprophytic plants. The stems are rhizomes, corms or bulbs, or a woody caudex. They present large prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate in the vascular bundles of the pods, as well as tannins or various types of terpenoids. The hairs covering various aerial organs are simple.

The leaves are simple, with an entire margin, thin and generally linear or ensiform, parallelinerved, alternate and distichous, often equitant, and with a unifacial blade (with the plane of the leaf parallel to the stem) or terete (circular in shape). cross section), along stem to basal, sheathing base, without stipules. In Geosiris the leaves are only scales and do not have chlorophyll.

The flowers of most iridaceae are large and showy, perfect, that is, they are hermaphrodites with functional male and female organs. In addition, they are pentacyclic since they have five whorls or cycles of floral parts: two cycles constitute the perigonium, one cycle forms the androecium, and the last whorl forms the gynoecium. Regarding their symmetry, the flowers of the iridaceae can be zygomorphic to actinomorphic, since they present from one to several planes of symmetry. They can be supported by a pedicel, or be sessile. They are generally enclosed by one to two bracts. The perigonium is composed of three external pieces of petaloid sepals and three internal pieces of petals, which are collectively called tepals since they do not differ in texture or color. The perigonium, however, can be homochlamydean —Sisyrinchium— or heterochlamydee —Moraea, Iris, Trimezia— depending on whether the shape of the external tepals differs from that of the internal tepals. The inner tepals may be smaller and more erect than the outer ones, as in the case of many Iris species and some Moraea species, be much reduced and curved downwards, as in the case of members of the subgenus Scorpiris; or they can be missing directly, as it happens in Patersonia. The tepals are usually large, imbricated, showy, sometimes dotted, and may be free or united at their bases, even forming a prominent tube in the case of members of the Ixioideae which may be up to 20 cm long as in the case of Iris unguicularis. The external tepals in the case of the Irideae and Tigrideae tribes can be differentiated into two portions and the proximal portion is called "claw". The claws, especially on the inner tepals, are frequently hairy and covered with spots or markings and are often covered with glands. In the external tepals of the species of the subgenus Iris are found the nectar guides, which are covered with long and multicellular hairs that form what is known as "beard" and that explains its popular name. of "bearded irises". The androecium is made up of three stamens, exceptionally only two as in the case of Diplarrhena, which are inserted at the base of the outer tepals. The stamens can be arranged separately from each other or be united by their filaments forming a tube, which forms a monadelphous androecium. The position of the stamens is variable, since they can be arranged radially or unilaterally. The anthers are sometimes attached to the branches of the style, are longitudinally dehisced and extrorse or poricidal. Pollen is usually monosulcate. The gynoecium is made up of three carpels joined together and has an inferior ovary, with the exception of Isophysis which has a superior ovary and for this reason, at least partially, is segregated into its own subfamily, Isophysidae. The ovary presents three cavities or locules, each of which carries from one to several ovules with axillary and, more rarely, parietal placentation. The ovules are usually anatropous or campilotropous and bitegmic. The style is filiform, terminal, usually three-branched or three-lobed, the branches sometimes expanded and petaloid, as in many species of Iridoideae. The stigma is trifid, sometimes bifid, terminal or well, arranged on the abaxial side of the style branches. The nectaries are found in the ovary septa, at the base of the outer tepals, on the inner tepals (Tigridia), at the base of the stamens (Iris) or well, they may be absent, as in the case of the genus Sisyrinchium.

Flowers are solitary or in various types of terminal inflorescences usually supported by a bract. The types of inflorescence can be umbels, ripidia, often highly modified, or spikes. Ripidia are covered by two opposite bracts (spathes), usually large, leafy or dry. Each flower in the spikes presents two opposite bracts. In Geosiris the inflorescence is underground.

The fruit is a loculicidal capsule, normally dehiscent, it can be hard or cartilaginous and sometimes woody. The seeds are between globular to angular (prismatic) or even discoidal and can present wings, arils or a seminal cover, usually with a cellular structure and brownish in color. The endosperm is hard and contains hemicellulose, oil, and protein. Inside is a small embryo.

Ecology

Distribution and habitat

Widely distributed, being especially diverse in southern Africa. The species of this family occupy very diverse habitats, both in tropical, subtropical and temperate climates. Most of the Iridaceae species are adapted to seasonal climates that present excessively dry or cold periods, unfavorable for plant growth, and in which these plants come to rest. In fact, most species are deciduous. The evergreen species are restricted in their distribution to subtropical forests, savannahs, and temperate steppes. In deciduous species, the aerial part (stems and leaves) dries up during the unfavorable period and the plants go into rest thanks to the fact that they have subterranean organs for survival and nutrient reserves (rhizomes, bulbs and corms). This adaptation is particularly advantageous for all iridaceae that inhabit communities that endure periodic fires during the dry season. In these periods, the plants are at rest and thus survive the heat of the fire. Fires clean the surface of vegetation, eliminating competition and, in addition, provide nutrients to the soil through ashes. When the first rains fall, the bulbs, corms (underground stem) and rhizomes begin to sprout rapidly, initiating a new period of growth and development sustained by the reserves accumulated in their tissues during the previous season.

Pollination and dispersal

Iridaceae show great variability in their reproductive ecology and a great diversity of flower types and structures consistent with adaptation to animal pollination (zoophily). Most of the species are entomophilous and are pollinated by various orders of insects (especially beetles, bees and flies), while others are pollinated by birds (ornithophiles). Floral rewards are nectar or pollen.

Seeds are usually dispersed by wind or water, but biotic dispersal also occurs.

Most of the species that make up this genus flower in summer, when the leaves are already dry. The actinomorphic to zygomorphic flowers are usually pink or red, although there are also species with white, yellow, brown or cream flowers. The genus has two basic chromosome numbers, x= 15 and 16.

The pollination biology of Tritoniopsis is quite surprising. There are species that present flowers with the tepals united at their bases forming a short pink tube that are pollinated by bees that seek their nectar. From these floral characters, considered ancestral, several more specialized modes of pollination have been derived during the evolution of the genus. Thus, four species with elongated flower tubes and pink or red bilabiate perianth are pollinated by birds of the genus Nectarinia (Passeriformes) or by the butterfly Aeropetes tulbaghia. Two other species with pink flowers with red margins are pollinated by flies of the genus Prosoeca (Nemestrinidae). Tritoniopsis parviflora, finally, is considered unique among the iridaceae of South Africa, since in addition to presenting sugary nectar, it produces oil in the flowers as a reward for the bee Redivia gigas (Melittidae).

Evolution and phylogeny

Flower of Diplarrena moraea.

Flower of Moraea gawleri.

Iridaceae are one of the largest and best-studied families within the order Asparagales, distinguished from the other Aspargales families due to the unique structure of its inflorescence (a ripidium) and its combination of ovary inferus with three stamens. Unifacial leaves are also common in iridaceae, while bifacial leaves are the norm in other asparagales.

The divergence between the Doryantaceae and the Iridaceae occurred approximately 82 million years ago, during the Campanian period of the Cretaceous. Isophysis is the only living member of the iridaceae that is sister to all other members of the family, from which it diverged about 66 million years ago, in the Maastrichtian period. The family originated in the Southern Hemisphere, when Australia was joined with Antarctica to form a single supercontinent that lay at higher latitudes, before significant glaciation occurred. The two largest clades in the family diverged 61 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous. Phylogenetic analyzes based on morphology and DNA sequences indicate that the Iridaceae constitute a monophyletic clade. Independently analyzed morphological characters placed the Iridaceae within the order Liliales, while the Iridaceae were in the order Liliales. DNA sequences, or joint analysis of morphological and molecular data, place it within Asparagales.

Three large clades are evident within the Iridaceae:

• Isophysidoideae, which contains only a Isophysis, it is distinguished by a super ovary and is probably the sister of the rest of the groups.
• Iridoideae, has flowers that usually last a single day, can be recognized by the presence of necrotes in the teapals and by the branches of the very long and tubular style, divided below the level of the anterees. This group is also characterized by presenting the free meta-carboxifenilalanine and glycine amino acids. Within the iridoids are evident several nails:
  • Sisyrinchieae, understands Sisyrinchium and related genres, present the branches of the style alternating with the stamens. In the other members of the subfamily, however, the branches of the style oppose the stamens.
  • a clay that includes Irideae, Mariceae and Tigrideae with the teapals differentiated in a limbo and a claw and the upper apices of the branches of the style with petalide appendices. Iris, Moraea, Nemastylis, Trimeziaand Tigridia are some of the representative genres.
• Finally, the Crocoideae claw that includes, for example, Ixia, Crocosmia, Geissorhiza, Crocus, Romulea, Freesia, Gladiolusand Hperontha. They present tepals united in their base, cormos instead of rhizomes, sessile flowers, pollen and characteristic leaves. Many members of this group retain the ancestral character of septal nectarios.

Evolution of chromosome number

Flowers Crocus alatavicus.

Many species of iridaceae have been studied with respect to their chromosome number and karyotype. Such studies have made it possible to determine the basic chromosome number of almost all the genera (which vary from x=6 to x=16) and to delineate the chromosomal changes that have accompanied the evolution of the iridaceae, from their center of diversification in southern Africa to its present global distribution. The dysploid reduction (that is, the progressive reduction of the basic chromosome number as a consequence of chromosome rearrangements) has played a fundamental role in the evolution of several genera, such as Gladiolus, Romulea, Crocus, Iris, Morea and Sisyrinchium. All of these genera have multiple basic chromosome numbers and adaptive specialization that has accompanied changes at the chromosome level. An example of these changes in chromosome number is Gladiolus. In this genus the most frequent basic chromosome number is x=15, with a great majority of diploid species (2n=30) in Africa. However, for several African species other basic chromosome numbers have been reported. Thus, G. atropurpureus has x = 12 (2n = 24 and 36); G. serapiflorus, G. gregarius, and G. pseudospicatus are diploid with x = 11 (2n = 22); G. unguiculatus has x = 13 (2n = 26) and x = 12 (2n = 24); while G. actinomorphanthus presents x = 14 (2n = 28). These basic numbers x= 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 have originated by disploidy from x = 15. Since all these species are morphologically unrelated, the dysploid reduction in Gladiolus has occurred several times during the evolution of the genus, apparently in 4 different lineages. Changes in basic chromosome number were not accompanied by reductions in the amount of nuclear DNA, since measurements of total chromosome length indicate that all diploid species have approximately the same amount of chromosome material, regardless of basic chromosome number. Finally, in Africa polyploidy in Gladiolus species is rare, but in Eurasian species it is the rule rather than the exception. In fact, the chromosomal analysis of the European entities G. atroviolaceus, G. communis, G. illyricus, G. imbricatus and G. italicus indicated that there are no diploid populations, but that most of these taxa form polyploid series (3x, 4x, 6x, 8x and 12x) based on the basic number x = 15.

Taxonomy

The name of the family is based on that of the genus Iris, the largest and best known in Europe. The origin of the name dates back to 1753, when Charles Linnaeus, seeing the extensive coloring of its species, named it after the Greek goddess Iris. This is a preserved name, so even if an earlier name is discovered for the family, the name "Iridaceae" would remain valid. It is attributed to Antoine Laurent de Jussieu's 1789 work Genera plantarum secundum ordines naturales disposita, juxta methodum in horto Regio Parisiensi exaratum anno 1774.

The family has been accepted in all major classification systems of the XX century. In Cronquist's system it is treated as part of the order Liliales within the subclass Liliidae, Takhtajan's system placed it in its own order—Iridales—along with Isophysidaceae and Geosiridaceae, which were treated as separate families with a single genus each. one, and in Thorne's system it is treated as part of the order Orchidales, in its own suborder, Iridineae. In the system created by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group in 1998, 2003, and 2009 (APG, APG II, and APG III, respectively) the iridaceae are placed in the order of the asparagales, which in turn is part of a clade called "non-commelinoid monocots".

Classification within the family

Based on floral and vegetative morphology, anatomy, embryology, pollen ultrastructure, chromosome analysis, and chemosystematics of flavonoid compounds, the family Iridaceae has been subdivided by botanist Peter Goldblatt into four subfamilies, the which correspond to the four main lineages suggested by phylogenetic analysis:

• Subfamily Isophysidoideae Takhtajan ex Thorne & Reveal, which includes a single gender, Isophysiswhich contains a unique natural species in Tasmania. This subfamily constitutes the brother clado of the rest of the iridaceae and, as the only exception to a typical characteristic IridaceaeIt is distinguished by presenting super ovary.
• Subfamily Patersonioideae Goldblatt, with one gender, Paters, covering approximately 21 species distributed by Australia, Borneo, Sumatra and New Guinea.
• Subfamily Geosiridoideae Goldblatt & Manning.
• Subfamily Nivenioideae Schulze ex. Goldblatt which comprises three arbusive genres in Southern Africa (South Africa)Klattia, Nivenia and Witsenia) and 15 species. They are distinguished by presenting flowers with radiated symmetry, with free teapals and arranged in small groups, between long bracts. The underground reserve organ is a rhizome.
• Subfamily Aristeoideae Vines with one gender, Aristea, comprising some 55 species distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
• Iridoideae Klatt subfamily with 42 genera and 695 species. A subfamily specializing in both floral and phytochemical aspects, with global distribution although predominantly of the Southern Hemisphere, is the only one with representatives in South America. The species have separate teapals, flowers with radial symmetry, petaloid styles and rhizomes (rarely bulbs).
  • Diplarreneae Goldblatt, is a tribe that includes a single gender —Diplarrena- with two species from Australia.
  • Irideae B. M. Kittel, tribe with five genera and approximately 510 species. Gender Bobartia is distributed by South Africa, especially in the El Cabo region and consists of 15 species; Diets is located in the east and south of Africa and has six species; Ferraria has its distribution in the South and in the Tropics of Africa, and has 14 species; Iris including Belamcanda, Hermodactylus, Pardanthopsis, with about 275 species, is distributed in Eurasia, North Africa and North America; Moraeaincluding Barnardiella, Galaxy, Gynandriris, Hexaglottis, Home and Roggeveldia, with about 200 species,) is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and also in Eurasia.
  • Sisyrinchieae J. S. Presl, includes six genera and some 177 species from America and Australasia. Libertia distributed in South America and Australasia with 12 species; Olsyniumincluding Chamelum, Ona, Phaiophlepswith 12 other species, it is distributed in South America and West North America; Orthrosanthus has 10 species in Central America, South America and Australia; Sisyrinchiumwith 140 species is the most represented genus of the tribe and is distributed by North America and South America; Solenomelus with two species and Tapeinia with only one, they are native to South America.
  • Trimezieae Ravenna. (= Mariceae Hutchinson 1934, nom. illeg.) is a small tribe with only three exclusively American species. Trimeziawhich has about twelve species, and Neomarica, with about 18, they are in South America and Central America, Pseudotrimezia It has 12 species, but it has a restricted distribution to the east of Brazil.
  • Tigridieae B. M. Kittel, includes 15 genera and around 172 species. Alophia is distributed in the tropics of South America, Central and South America of North America, and has about five species. Calydoreacurrently includes Catila, Itysa, Tamia, comprising about 16 species; Cardenanthus has approximately 8 species; Ennealophusincluding Tucma, has 5 species; about six species have both gender Gelasine Like Herbertia; Hesperoxiphiumwith four species, and Mastigostyla, with about 15, are exclusively South American genres; Cipura has about 9 species and Eleutherine two, and are distributed in South America and Central America; Cobana with a single species found in Central America; Cypellaincluding Kelissa, Onira and Phalocallis, with about 30 species, is located in South America, Mexico and Cuba; about 5 species has Larentia located in the north of South America and Mexico; Nemastylis groups 4 species from Central and South America; Tigridiaincluding Ainea, Cardiostigma, Colima, Fosteria, Rigidella and Sessilanthera, with about 55 species, is distributed in Mexico, Central America and the Andes.
• Subfamily Crocoideae G. T. Burnett has 29 genera and some 1030 species—more than half of the species of iridaceae—with characters derived both at the level of foliar anatomy, polynic exine, flavonoids and inflorescences. The genders of this subfamily are predominantly from South Africa. Typically, the species of this subfamily present the teapals together forming a tube, the flowers have bilateral symmetry (less frequently radial), non-petaloid styles and the underground reserve organ is a corm (more rarely a rhizome).
  • Tritoniopsideae Goldblatt Manning (2006), includes a single genus, Tritoniopsiswith 24 species distributed in South Africa.
  • Watsonieae Klatt (1882) comprises eight genera and 111 species. Genders are: Cyanixia with a single species of the Yemeni archipelago of Socotra; Lapeirousia with 42 species distributed in South Africa and tropical America; Micranthus with three species, Pillansia with one, Thereianthus with eight sendos from the region of El Cabo; Savannosiphon specific, and Zygotritonia with four species, both of the Tropics of African Capricorn; finally, Watsonia It has some 51 species, all from southern Africa.
  • Gladioleae Dumortier (1822) with two genera and some 263 known species. Gender Oenostachys, Homoglossum, Anomalesia and Acidantheratraditionally considered independent genres have been included within Gladiolusand possesses all the species of the tribe, except one. Large distribution can be found in Africa, including Madagascar, and Eurasia; the other species belongs to the genus Melasphaerula South African.
  • Fresieae Goldblatt and Manning (2006) includes four genera and 26 species: Crocosmia with eight tropical and southern African species, including Madagascar; Devia only possesses a species west of Karoo in South Africa; Freesia including Anomatheca has 15 species located in the tropical and southern east of Africa; finally, Xenoscapa groups two species from southern Africa.
  • Croceae Dumortier (1822) is a tribe comprising 14 genera and some 608 species: Afrocrocusmonkey, and Chasmanthe, which contains only three species, are distributed in the southwest of South Africa; Babiana including Antholyza is a South African genus with about 90 species; gender Crocus is distributed by Europe, Asia, North Africa, and has about 85 species; Dierama, with 44 species distributed from the Tropic of African Capricorn to South Africa; the monotypical genus Duthieastrum is also in southern Africa; as well as Geissorhiza which is distributed by South Africa, especially south-west of the Cape region, has 86 species; Hperontha including Schizostylis possesses some 82 sub-Saharan species; Ixia, from southern Africa, groups about 67 species; Radinosiphon has two species, although they could be more, distributed from the Tropic of Capricorn Africa to the end of Good Hope; Romulea appears in Africa, Mediterranean area and Canary Islands and Socotra, and has about 95 species; Sparaxisincluding Synnotiait has 15 species of the region of El Cabo; Syringodea with seven species of southern Africa; and, finally, Trionia with 30 species distributed from the Tropic of Capricorn to the South of South Africa.

Genres

The family comprises approximately 70 genera and more than 1600 species, distributed throughout the globe, with a marked concentration of species in the southern hemisphere and the largest radiation center in Africa, south of the Sahara.

• Ainea Ravenna
• Alophia Herb. Eustylis)
• Aristea Sol. ex Aiton
• Babiana Ker Gawl. ex Sims
• Bobartia L.
• Calydorea Herb.: Cardiostigma Herb,Itysa Ravenna and Salpingostylis Small)
• Cardenanthus Foster
• Chasmanthe N.E.Br.
• Cipura Aubl.
• Cobana Ravenna
• Crocosmia Planch.
• Crocus L.
• Cyanixia
• Cypella Herb. (incl. Kelissa Ravenna, Onira Ravenna)
• Devia Goldblatt & J.C.Manning
• Dierama K.Koch
• Diets Salisb. ex Klatt
• Diplarrhena Labill.
• Duthiastrum M.P. de Vos
• Eleutherine Herb.
• Ennealophus N.E.Br. Tucma Ravenna, Eurynotia Foster)
• Ferraria Burm. ex Mill
• Fosteria Molseed
• Freesia Eckl. ex Klatt. Anomatheca, Lapeirousia)
• Geissorhiza Ker Gawl.
• Gelasine Herb.
• Geosiris Baill.
• Gladiolus L. (no. Oenostachys, Homoglossum, Anomalesia, Antholyza L. and Acidanthera)
• Herbertia Sweet (no.: Sympa Ravenna)
• Hermodactylus Mill.
• Hperontha Ker Gawl. Schizostylis)
• Hesperoxiphion Baker.
• Iris L. (no. Belamcanda)
• Isophysis T.Moore
• Ixia L.
• Klattia Baker.
• Larentia Klatt
• Lethia Ravenna
• Libertia Spreng.
• Mastigostyla I.M.Johnst.
• Melasphaerula Ker Gawl.
• Micranthus (Pers.) Eckl.
• Moraea Mill.: Bernardiella, Galaxy, Gynandiris, Hexaglottis, Home, Sessilstigma and Roggeveldia)
• Nemastylis Nutt.
• Neomarica Sprague
• Nivenia Vent.
• Olsynium Raf.
• Orthrosanthus Sweet.
• Pardanthopsis (Hance) Lenz
• Paters R.Br.
• Pillansia L.Bolus
• Pseudotrimezia Foster
• Radinosiphon N.E.Br.
• Romulea Maratti
• Savannosiphon Goldblatt & Marais
• Sessilanthera Molseed " Cruden "
• Sisyrinchium L.
• Solenomelus Miers
• Sparaxis Ker Gawl.
• Sphenostigma Baker.
• Syringodea Hook.
• Tapeinia Comm. ex Juss.
• Thereianthus G.J.Lewis
• Tigridia Juss.
• Trimezia Salisb. ex Herb.
• Trionia Ker Gawl.
• Tritoniopsis L.Bolus (Anapalina N.E.Br.)
• Watsonia Mill.
• Witsenia Thunb.
• Xenoscapa (Goldblatt) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning
• Zygotritonia Mildbr.

Economic and cultural importance

Many iridaceae are used in park and garden designs. In the image, Crocus Upholstering the park of Husum Castle, Germany.

Several iridaceae species are used in the cut flower industry. In the image, inflorescences of a red gladiolo cultivar.

Raice of prayers.

Many species of Iridaceae are of great economic importance in ornamental horticulture and in the cut flower industry, especially Gladiolus, Freesia, Sparaxis, Iris, Tigridia ("tiger flower"), Ixia ("corn lily"), Romulea, Neomarica, Moraea ("butterfly lily"), Nemastylis, Belamcanda, Sisyrinchium ("blue-eyed grass"), Crocosmia, and Trimezia. Many other genera (Watsonia, Crocus, Dietes, Tritonia, Hesperantha and Neomarica) are grown in gardens in tropical and temperate regions as perennials and bulbous plants.

Moraea and Homeria are two genera of poisonous plants and are a problem in sheep and cattle-producing regions, notably South Africa.

Ethnobotany

Numerous species of iridaceae have been used as food, seasoning, ornamental, and medicinal plants by different cultures over the centuries. The Navajo Indians, for example, used decoctions of the Iris missouriensis Nutt plant. as an emetic. Pieces of rhizomes of the same species were used to control toothaches or the hot decoction of the plant was applied to the ears to soothe otitis. The trodden roots of Iris versicolor L. were applied to wounds, probably as an antiseptic, and infusions of the dried roots were given to soothe any pain. In Hawaii, Sisyrinchium acre was used in various ways. The leaves and the juice that could be extracted from them were used to give tattoos a blue color. The leaves, macerated with salt, sugar, and other spices, were recommended to cleanse and cure skin diseases. species, in the treatment of venereal affections. Leopard lily (Iris domestica) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine as it appears to be very effective in controlling diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and virus, as well as to reduce fever or reduce inflammation. The roots of this species were harvested in the summer or fall and dried for later use. Another Iridacea widely used in folk medicine for centuries is saffron (Crocus sativus). Its uses were multiple: antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, expectorant, narcotic, sedative and stimulant, currently being replaced by less expensive medicines.

Orris root is the dried rhizomes of Iris germanica, Iris florentina or Iris pallida. It was formerly used in Western herbal medicine and today is used primarily as a fixative and base note in perfumery, as well as an ingredient in many brands of gin.

Symbolism

Arms shield of modern France. Advise the golden lis flowers on the blue background.

The fleur-de-lis (in the original French fleur de l'iris) of heraldry is a stylized flower of a species of the genus Iris. Specifically, it is Iris pseudacorus, a common species on the edge of watercourses in France. It is used as a decorative design or as a symbol. It can have, at the same time, a religious, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic or symbolic meaning.

The fleur-de-lis has been used in heraldry for centuries. In the 12th century, Louis VI and Louis VII were the first French monarchs to use it on their coat of arms. English kings later used it on their weapons to emphasize their claims to the throne of France. In the 14th century, it was often incorporated into family insignia that were sewn onto the knight's mantle, which was worn by its owner on the coat of mail, hence the term "arms cloak".

During the XX century, the symbol of the fleur-de-lis was adopted by the World Scout Movement, an organization present throughout the world. The scouts represent it on a purple-violet background, painted white or silver and surrounded by a rope that ends in a "flat" knot (brotherhood knot), and with two five-pointed stars on the outer petals. Each petal represents one of the three principles and duties (home, society and belief) and three virtues (selflessness, loyalty and purity) that every Scout must follow and have. The stars represent outdoor life and the ten articles of the scout law.

Conservation status

There are species of iridaceae that are considered vulnerable or threatened with extinction. The causes may be the degradation of their natural habitat or a very restricted distribution. According to the IUCN Red List, the following species are vulnerable or threatened: Gladiolus pole-evansii, Gladiolus usambarensis, Moraea callista, Moraea stagnalis, Mastigostyla orurensis, Stahlia monosperma, Crocus cyprius, Crocus etruscus, Crocus hartmannianus, Iris boissieri, Mastigostyla orurensis, Romulea antiatlantica, Romulea aquatica and Romulea multisulcata.