Iris germanica

Purple variety

Iris germanica is a species in the family Iridaceae, it is the most common garden variety of bearded iris. It is a perennial bulbous plant that is considered invasive ^{[citation needed]} because of its ease of propagation. It grows in any type of soil.

View of the plant

Detail of the flower

In their habitat

Description

The leaves are basal, linear, 3-10, more than 40 cm long and 3 cm broad, sword-shaped, glossy and medium green in colour.
Inflorescences arise from a terminal stem with leaves at the base and bare as it approaches the apex. The flowers have three extended and outwardly curved sepals, ovate in shape and between 8 and 12 cm long by 6 wide. They are glabrous except for the midrib covered with straws of about 3 mm., yellowish white or with purple tones. The petals are also three, they extend erect and bend over the fertile part of the flower.

Flowers from spring to summer.

Numerous varieties exist, such as Iris germanica Florentina and cultivars, in a range of colors from white to yellow, red, purple and blue.

History

In Charlemagne's edict Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii it is mentioned under the name lilium.

Properties

Active ingredients

Essential oil (0.2%): ketones (irones: alpha, beta and gamma, neo-alpha, iso-alpha, neo-iso-alpha, neo-beta, neo-gamma; iso-gamma and neo- iso-gamma-irone), sesquiterpenes, ketones, myristic acid; flavonoids (isoflavones): irilone, irisolone. beta-sitosterol, starch, mucilage, calcium oxalate.

Medicinal uses

The rhizome is used. At low doses it acts as an expectorant, demulcent (anti-inflammatory, moisturizing) and diuretic. In larger doses, as an emetic. Indicated for bronchitis, asthma, emphysema; gastrointestinal spasms. Stomatitis and teething discomfort, in external use. In high doses it is a drastic purgative. When fresh, it can cause gastritis and vomiting. Topically it can cause contact dermatitis. It should be used with caution due to its slight toxicity.

Taxonomy

Iris germanica was described by Charles Linnaeus and published in Species Plantarum 1: 38. 1753.

Etymology

Iris: generic name named for Iris the Greek goddess of the rainbow.

germanica: geographical epithet that alludes to its location in Germany.

Cytology

Chromosome number of Iris germanica (Fam. Iridaceae) and infraspecific taxa: 2n=36.

Sinonimia

• Iris × florentine L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 863 (1759).
• Iris × sambucina L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 863 (1759).
• Iris × squalens L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 863 (1759).
• Iris × us Garsault, Fig. Pl. Med. 1: t. 23a (1764).
• Iris × lurida Aiton, Hort. Kew. 1: 68 (1789).
• Iris × wallrum Gaterau, Descr. Pl. Montauban: 30 (1789).
• Iris × latifolia Gilib. Exerc. Phyt. 2: 497 (1792), contrary to Art. 32.7 ICBN (2000).
• Iris × officinalis Salisb, Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 43 (1796).
• Iris × spectabilis Salisb, Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 43 (1796).
• Iris × vulgaris Pohl, Tent. Fl. Bohem. 1: 46 (1809).
• Iris × amoena DC. in P.J.Redouté, Liliac. 6: t. 336 (1811).
• Iris × pallida Here, Fl. Napol. 3: 36 (1811), nom. illeg.
• Iris × neglecta Hornem, Hort. Bot. Hafn. 1: 55 (1813).
• Iris × rape Savi, Bot. Etrusc. 2: 9 (1815).
• Iris × nepalensis Wall. ex Lindl., Bot. Reg. 10: t. 818 (1824).
• Iris × laciniata Berg, Flora 16(1 Beibl.): 28 (1833).
• Iris × venusta J.Booth ex Berg, Flora 16(1 Beibl.): 31 (1833).
• Iris × repanda Berg, Flora 18: 565 (1835).
• Iris × superba Berg, Flora 18: 567 (1835).
• Iris × tardiflora Berg, Flora 18: 566 (1835).
• Iris × deflexa Knowles & Westc., Fl. Cab. 2: 19 (1838).
• Iris × humei G.Don in J.C.Loudon, Encycl. Pl., Suppl. 1: 1150 (1841).
• Iris × redouteana Spach, Hist. Nat. Vég. 13: 56 (1846).
• Iris × australis Tod, Nuov. Gen. Sp.: 49 (1861).
• Iris × atroviolacea Lange, Bot. Tidsskr. 13: 18 (1882).
• Iris × florentine var. pallida Nyman, Consp. Fl. Eur.: 700 (1882).
• Iris variegata var. lurida (Aiton) Nyman, Consp. Fl. Eur.: 700 (1882).
• Iris × biliottii Foster, Gard. Chron. 1887(1): 738 (1887).
• Iris × trojana A.Kern. ex Stapf, Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 37: 650 (1887).
• Iris × cypriana Foster & Baker, Gard. Chron. 1888(2): 182 (1888).
• Iris × softolens (N.Terracc.) A.Terracc., Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 1: 182 (1894), nom. illeg.
• Iris × mesopotamica Dykes, Gen. Iris: 176 (1913).
• Iris × belouini Bois & Cornuault, Rev. Hort. 87: 547 (1915).
• Iris × varbossania K.Malý, Glasn. Zemaljsk. Muz. Bosni Hercegovini 31: 75 (1919).
• Iris × chromatic Prodan, Fl. Dobrudscha Meeresk. Rum.: 15 (1931).
• Iris × nyaradyana Prodan, Bul. Grad. Bot. Univ. Cluj 14: 176 (1934 publ. 1935).
• Iris × macrantha Simonet, Bull. Soc. Natl. Hort. France, VI, 2: 107 (1935).
• Iris × rothschildii Degen, Fl. Veleb. 1: 646 (1936).
• Iris × piatrae Prodan, Ann. Sci. Univ. Jassy, Pt. 2, Sci. Nat. 27: 126 (1941).
• Iris × squalens var. biflora Prodan & Buia, Bul. Grad. Bot. Univ. Cluj 25: 205 (1945).
• Iris × squalens var. rosea Prodan & Buia, Bul. Grad. Bot. Univ. Cluj 25: 204 (1945).
• Iris × chromatic Horvat & M.D.Horvat, Acta Bot. Croat. 20-21: 8 (1962), nom. illeg.
• Iris × florentinoides Prodan ex Nyar. in T.Savulescu, Fl. Reipubl. Popul. Roman. 11: 515 (1966).
• Iris × setina Colas, Giorn. Bot. Ital. 123(Suppl. 1): 112 (1989).
• Iris × relicta Colas, Fl. Medit. 6: 214 (1996).

Common names

• Castilian: blue, carrizas, carrucia, onions of lilies, knives, swords, strawberries, strawberry, ireos de flor blanca, iris de flor purple, iris, lirio, lirio azul, lirio blanca, lirio footwear, lirio caldera, lirio de las parmas, lirio de las parmas, lirio