Iris germanica florentina
Orris
a perennial member of the Iris genus in the family Iridaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves, and especially the rhizomes, of this species contain an irritating resinous substance called irisin. If ingested this can cause severe gastric disturbances[11]. Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in some people[9].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The root can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a food flavouring[2]. The root may take several years of drying to develop its full fragrance[3].
- Product or use
- Condiment
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The dried root is diuretic, expectorant and stomachic[7][9]. It is taken internally in the treatment of coughs, catarrh and diarrhoea[9]. Externally it is applied to deep wounds[9]. The root is harvested in late summer and early autumn and dried for later use[9]. The juice of the fresh root is a strong purge of great efficiency in the treatment of dropsy[12].
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Purgative
- Product or use
- Stomachic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The root is a source of Orris powder which has the scent of violets[9]. It is obtained by grinding up the dried root[12][16][13]. It is much used as a fixative in perfumery and pot-pourri, as an ingredient of toothpastes, breath fresheners etc and as a food flavouring. The root can take several years of drying to fully develop its violet-like fragrance, when fresh it has an acrid flavour and almost no smell[12][3]. An essential oil is obtained from the fresh root, this has the same uses as the root[14][15]. The root has been burnt in open fires in order to sweeten the smell of a room[10]. The juice of the root is sometimes used as a cosmetic and also for the removal of freckles from the skin[12]. A black dye is obtained from the root[3]. A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[3]. The seeds are used as rosary beads[15]. Plants can be grown for ground cover, the dense mat of roots excluding all weeds[6].
- Product or use
- Beads
- Product or use
- Cosmetic
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Essential
- Product or use
- Incense
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Europe - Mediterranean.
- Habitat
- Probably an albino form of I. germanica, it is not found in a truly wild situation[18].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. A sterile plant, it does not produce seed[8]. Division, best done after flowering though it is usually successful at most times of the year. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a sunny position in a well-drained soil that contains some lime[1][17]. Grows well in dry soils in light deciduous shade[4]. Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[17]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 to 7.5 or higher[5]. The plant is sometimes cultivated for the essential oil in its root[19][13]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[8].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Innes. C. The World of Iridaceae
Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2