Practical
Plants

Iris missouriensis

Rocky Mountain Iris

a perennial member of the Iris genus in the family Iridaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Iridaceae
Genus
Iris
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.75 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

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.

Many plants in this genus are thought to be poisonous if ingested, so caution is advised[14]. An arrow poison was made from the ground-up roots[7]. 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 roasted seed is a coffee substitute[3][4].

Product or use
Coffee

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.

Rocky Mountain iris was employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat various complaints, but especially as an external application for skin problems[10]. It was for a time an officinal American medicinal plant[11], but is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The root is emetic and odontalgic[13][10]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints, stomach aches etc[10]. The pulped root is placed in the tooth cavity or on the gum in order to bring relief from toothache[7]. A decoction of the root has been used as ear drops to treat earaches[10]. A poultice of the mashed roots has been applied to rheumatic joints and also used as a salve on venereal sores[10]. Caution is advised in the use of this plant, see the notes above on toxicity[K]. A paste of the ripe seeds has been used as a dressing on burns[10].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Salve
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Yields a green dye[2] (part of plant used is not specified).

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Western N. America - British Columbia to Mexico, east to South Dakota and Alberta.
Habitat
Meadows and streamsides[12]. Also found in pinewoods[15]. Often found in apparently dry situations, but always where moisture is abundant until flowering time[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
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. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first year. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Division, best done after flowering. Another report says that it is best done in spring or early autumn[5]. 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.

Requires a moist soil, growing well in a moist border, but intolerant of stagnant water[1]. Easily grown in a sunny position so long as the soil is wet in the spring[5]. A polymorphic species[15]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

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  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  7. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  8. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

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  9. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

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  10. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  12. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  14. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  15. Innes. C. The World of Iridaceae

    ↩1↩2

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