Eggarton Cottages, Eggarton Lane, Godmersham, Kent, CT4 7DY
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Iris means rainbow because of the many colours irises are. Also named after Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, who used a rainbow to move between heaven and earth. Known too as Dragon Flower, Flaggon, Daggers, Segg (from the Anglo-Saxon "segg" meaning small sword - referring to the shape of its leaves) and Jacob's Sword. The three inner petals represent faith, wisdom and valour. Wild flower found in bogs. Perennial. Sword-like leaves and large bright yellow flowers. Grows to about 3 ft (92 cm) high and flowers June to September. The plant is used in the Fleur de Lis emblem used by Louis VII.
Pseudacorus comes from the Greek pseudo = false, and acorus = the name of Sweet Sedge (acorus calamus), which it resembles, although Sweet Sedge smells aromatic and Yellow Flag iris has no scent. The Romans called the plant conservatix because it was used in purifications, and Pliny mentions ceremonies used when digging up the plant.
In the Middle Ages, the leaves were used to repair thatched roofs. In herbalism, the root juice is used to treat sores. A piece of rhizome would be placed on an aching tooth to ease the pain. Roasted seeds can be used as a coffee substitute. Irises used to be hung over doors to ward off evil spirits.
Ideal for a boggy part of the garden or pondside. Found in the wild on fens, reed-beds, riverbanks, wet meadows and ditches.
Leaves provide food for some moth caterpillars, such as the Belted Beauty and Water Ermine. The plant has little attraction for butterflies but it has a sweet smell which attracts bees and hoverflies. The leaves are also the food plant of dragonfly larvae.
The flowers yield a yellow dye, the roots a black dye (mixed with sulphate of iron) which is used in ink and called Sabbath Black. A bright green dye can be obtained from the leaves - all these colours were used in the Harris tweed industry in Scotland. The flowers yield a yellow dye.
The rhizome can be used to treat diarrhoea, period pain, coughs and convulsions, dropsy, poisoning, bruises, toothache and ulcers. The herb has been used since Roman times. Dried, powdered roots were also made into snuff to clear head colds, or the juice from the crushed roots would be spooned into the nostrils. Plant has also been used in poison antidotes, particularly that for the bite of a mad dog.
Divide rhizomes (thick underground stem) every few years. If rust disease strikes, remove affected leaves and destroy them. If insects attack, spray them off into the pond so that fish and pond predators can eat them. Do not spray into pond with chemical sprays. Do not grow where cattle feed.
*This sheet is provided for information only and is in no way a prescription for use. Please seek the advice of a qualified herbalist before using*