Practical
Plants

Iris pallida

Dalmation 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
1 m
Spread
1.5 m
Fertility
self fertile
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[18]. The roots are especially likely to be toxic[10]. Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in some people[10].

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[15][3]. The root may take several years of drying to develop its full fragrance[2]. 'Orris oil' is an essential oil derived from the dried root, it is used as a flavouring in soft drinks, sweets, chewing gum etc[4].

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.

Cathartic[12]. The juice of the fresh root is a strong purge of great efficiency in the treatment of dropsy[12].

Product or use
Cathartic

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[10]. It is obtained by grinding up the dried root[12][19][15]. 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 fragrance, when fresh it has an acrid flavour and almost no smell[12][2]. An essential oil is obtained from the fresh root, this has the same uses as the root[16][17]. 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[2]. A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[2]. Plants can be grown for ground cover, the dense mat of roots excluding all weeds[8].

Product or use
Cosmetic
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Essential

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
Europe - S. Tyrol from Yugoslavia to the Adriatic.
Habitat
Rocky places[14] in limestone hillsides and the sides of gorges[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

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, though it can be done at almost any time. 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 sunny position and a well-drained soil containing lime[13]. Easily cultivated in a sunny position in ordinary garden soil[5]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7.5 or higher[7]. Established plants are drought tolerant[6]. Cultivated, especially in Italy, for the essential oil in its root[12]. The flowers are sweetly scented, reminding some people of orange blossom, others of vanilla and others of civet[11]. A very vigorous species[13]. The rhizome should be planted partly above the soil[1]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[9].

References

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

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  2. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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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. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

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

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  8. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  13. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-19-217626-9

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  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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

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

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  19. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

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