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Wild Purple-Bearded Iris

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 The Iris was in the old days a symbol of Majesty. Its shaping originated the Sceptre, invented by early Egyptians.
Known as "Liver Lily" for its medicinal effectiveness on the liver, it is an official drug in The United States Pharmacopoeia.

 Iris versicolor

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Contra-Indications
   Can be mistaken for Sweet Flag or Iris Missouriensis*with alarming repercussions. Large doses can cause nausea, vomiting and facial neuralgias.Handle with care: possible dermatitis. recognition: "Blue Flag rhizome has annual joints about 2 or more inches long,3/4 " in diameter,cylindrical in the lower half,becoming compressed towards the crown,where the cup-shaped stem scar is to be seen,when dry....Numerous rings formed of leaf scars..above and scars of rootlets below...dark brown externally, longditudinally wrinkled.The fracture is short, purplish...rootlets are long, slender and simple. Rhizome has a peculiar odour and a nauseating taste."
(This information is offered very scientifically by Mrs. Grieves, in A Modern Herbal.
Info also from Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Herbalism.
Judging from the detailed recognition of this medicinal root,it is not a plant to play with for herb tea of a summers eve.
Iris Properties

Description

Wild Iris Family Members

Constituents

Medicinal Uses

Called Blue Flag, or Flag Lily, this purple Iris is a native of North America, and not found as a wild herb in Great Britain.
Well-known:
Orris Root Rhizoma Iridis
starch,gum,tannin, a volatile oil, 25% of acrid, resinous matter called irisin,isopthalic acid,traces of salicylic acid,and an alkaloid(or,"possible""unidentified" alkaloid)un- named in both my references
The root offers the official US Drug,being the
source of Iridin or Irisin.
Iridin acts powerfully on
the liver. 
Other Names
Also medicinal
An opalescent distillate is obtained through distilling the fresh root with water.
Main Uses:
(preferable to podophyllin for the bowels)
Poison Flag
Liver Lily
Snake Lily
Dragon Flower
Dagger Flower
Water Flag
N. O. Iridiceae
I. Florentina
From this a white camphoraceous substance is extracted,having a fait odour.The oil posseses taste and smell but onlypart of its medicinal use
Oleoresin in the root is a liver purgative, also useful in small doses for:
I. foetidissima
 
biliousness,disorders of the duodenum,
I. Germanica
purifying the blood
I. Lenax
 Used in :
* I. Missouriensis
constipation, a hepatic stimulant.
I. Pallida
*Mainly used for syphilis and some
I. pseudacorus
scrofula and eruptive skin
I. tuberosa
conditions caused by sluggish
I. xiphium
gastro-intestinal tract and constipation






 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 

 

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Lesser Known Use
 
 
 

*Lesser-known use:

 
 
 
 
leaves applied externally for bruising
 
 
 
Blood purifier for the skin,diuretic.
 
 
 
 My own Doctor told me recently that science has
conquered both Syphilis and Gonhorrea. He has not told me of what medicinal
constituents a cure or preventive is found, but there are three well known herbs
traditionally used to cure one or the other : Iris versicolor,  Blazing
Star (Liatris) root and also Mexican Tea .