Iris - Rainbow Flower!

A perennial, sometimes evergreen, native to N temperate regions,
divisible into two groups; those with rhizomes have sword-shaped leaves
in flat fans; those with bulbs have leaves narrow, channelled, or
cylindrical; flowers large, showy, the parts in threes and structurally
complex, often in a combination of colours with conspicuous honey
guides; fruit a capsule, sometimes with brightly coloured seeds.
Many species and cultivars are grown for ornament. (Genus: Iris, 300
species. Family: Iridaceae.)

Originally named after Iris, the Greek Goddess of the rainbow, as their
shades and markings are reminiscent of those of the rainbow, these
beautiful flowers are emblematic of promise, light and hope, pride and
bravery.

Iris is cultivated everywhere, it would seem, owing to the beaty and
variety of its blooms. The Yellow Flag Iris grows wild now in the
thousands in the West Highlands of Scotland. A beautiful native
American Iris, the iris hexagona, has large deep blue flowers,
variegated with purple, white and yellow. The Germans have their native
species too, iris Germanica, and they used to plant it on the roofs of
their cottages.

The Eastern nations regarded it with high esteem, the Egyptians placed
Iris on the bow of the Sphinx and on the sceptres of the monarchs,
regarding it as a symbol of power. Several different species are still
grown as a source of "orris", which is dried root of Iris. Orris
contains a volatile oil, which gives a violet perfume that intensifies
as the dried rhizome ages.

Widely used as a medicinal plant among native Americans, the Creek
people grew Iris near their villages.

Iris, the goddess, was named after the rainbow, the messenger of the
the gods who was the bearer of good news. In Christian belief, the
rainbow being God's radiant messenger, "And it shall come to pass, when
I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the
cloud.....and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all
flesh".

The Greeks also dedicated this radiant flower to Juno, queen of heaven,
who was held to be honoured mother of the gods, and was regarded as the
symbol of light.

In more recent times, 1804, the English chemist, Tennant, when he
discovered a new metallic element, which, on being disolved in certain
acids, produced a variety of colours, called it iridium, after the
rainbow goddess, Iris.

Thank you for reading this article, if you have any comments, or you'd
like me to write about your favourite flower, please e.mail me,
Marilyn.Cameron@btinternet.com