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Common Name: Purple Flag

General Information

Iris germanica is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

The leaves, and especially the rhizomes, of this species contain an irritating resinous substance called irisin. If ingested this can cause severe gastric disturbances[].
Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in some people[].

Botanical References

Range

The original habitat is obscure, it is probably of hybrid origin.

Habitat

Dry rocky places[]

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A very easily grown plant that tolerates considerable neglect[], it prefers a sunny position in a well-drained soil that contains some lime[, ]. Grows well in dry soils in light deciduous shade[]. Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 to 7.5 or higher[].
Many named varieties have been selected for their ornamental value[]. The plant is also sometimes cultivated for the essential oil in its root[].
The plant is sterile and does not produce seed[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[].

Edible Uses

The root is dried and used as a flavouring[, ].

Medicinal

The root is diuretic, emetic, expectorant and mildly purgative[, , ]. Another report says that the juice of the fresh root is a strong purge of great efficiency in the treatment of dropsy[]. In the past, sections of the dried root have been given to teething babies to chew on, though this has been discontinued for hygienic reasons[]. Roots of plants 2 - 3 years old are dug up after flowering and are then dried for later use[].

Other Uses

The root is a source of Orris powder which has the scent of violets[]. It is obtained by grinding up the dried root[, , ]. 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[, ]. An essential oil is obtained from the fresh root, this has the same uses as the root[, ].
The juice of the root is sometimes used as a cosmetic and also for the removal of freckles from the skin[].
A black dye is obtained from the root[].
A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[].
The seeds are used as rosary beads[].

Propagation

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[].
Division, best done after flowering. 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.