Iris pseudacorus
| Iris pseudacorus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 5' |
| Width: | 7' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Meadows Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Iris pseudacorus (common name: yellow flag)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. A period of cold stratification improves germination time and rates. 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 in March or October. Early autumn is best[2]. 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: Prefers a humus rich soil[3]. Succeeds in water up to 15cm deep[4]. Requires a moist soil, especially in early summer. Prefers a position in semi-shade[5]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[6].
A delicately scented essential oil is obtained from the dried roots[7].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[6].
Some named forms have been selected for their ornamental value[8].
Range: Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Africa the Caucasus and W. Asia.
Habitat: Damp marshy areas, swampy woods and in shallow water or wet ground on the edges of rivers and ditches[9]. Often found in shady places[1].
Edibility: The seed is said to make an excellent coffee substitute as long as it is well roasted[10][11][12][13][14][15]. Caution is advised, it might be poisonous[16].
Medicinal: The fresh root is astringent, cathartic, emetic, emmenagogue and odontalgic[1][11][12]. A slice of the root held against an aching tooth is said to bring immediate relief[15]. It was at one time widely used as a powerful cathartic but is seldom used nowadays because of its extremely acrid nature[1]. It can also cause violent vomiting and diarrhoea[15]. When dried the root loses its acridity and then only acts as an astringent[1].
Usage: A beautiful yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[1].
A good black dye is obtained from the root if it is mixed with iron sulphate[1][14]. It is brown otherwise[17].
The root is a source of tannin[12] and has been used in making ink[1].
A delicately scented essential oil, obtained from the roots, has been used to adulterate the oil of Acorus calamus[7].
Pollinators: Bees, hoverflies
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
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[18].
Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in some people[19].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Innes, Clive. The World of Iridaceae. Holly Gate, 1985.
- ↑ Baines, Chris. Making a Wildlife Garden.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Carruthers, S. Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading, 1986.
- ↑ Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.