Iris tenax
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.
Many plants in this genus are thought to be poisonous if ingested, so caution is advised[11]. The roots are especially likely to be toxic[7]. Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in some people[7].
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.
A tincture of the whole plant, or the bulbous stems, is given in the treatment of bilious vomiting and is recommended for treating depression[8].
- Product or use
- Antiemetic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A fibre from the leaves is used in weaving and making ropes[1][8]. The fibre is buoyant, strong and durable[5].
- Product or use
- Fibre
Environment
- Range
- Western N. America - Washington to Oregon.
- Habitat
- Open prairies, pastures, oak forests, logged land and open areas in coniferous forests, avoiding heavy shade[10].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral
- Drainage
- well drained
- 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 in early September after flowering but it can also be done in March. 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 really well-drained lime-free soil that is dry rather than damp[12][6]. Succeeds in dry shade according to another report which also says that, once established, it is drought tolerant[3]. Very easy to grow in a lime-free woodland soil[9]. Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[9]. A very ornamental plant[1]. Hybridizes freely, especially with other Pacific Coast Irises[2]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[6].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
? Alpine Garden Society Bulletin. Volume 56. Alpine Garden Society
Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
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
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00
Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00
Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394
Innes. C. The World of Iridaceae