I R I D A C E JE. 625 



Linn., Sp. PI. 55 ; Bot. Mag. 671 ; Flor. Med. iv. 204; Stephenson and 

 Churchill, i. 27 ; Lindley, Fl. Med. 575. 

 Common Names. — Florentine Iris ; Orris. 



A native of Southern Europe, and cultivated in gardens on account of the 

 beauty of its flowers. The recent root is acrid, and when chewed excites a 

 burning heat in the mouth. When dried, much of this acrimony disappears. 

 As found in the shops, it is in pieces of different forms and sizes, of a white 

 colour, a pleasant smell, somewhat like that of violets, and a bitterish, acrid 

 taste. It was formerly prescribed as an emeto-cathartic and diuretic, but is now 

 seldom used in medicine, its principal employment being as an ingredient in 

 tooth-powders, and as an article of perfumery. It, however, enters into the 

 composition of the Lead plaster of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. 



2. I. pseud-acorus, Linn. — Rhizome horizontal, depressed, brown, astringent Leaves 

 erect, ensiform, ribbed. Flowers large, yellow, beardless. Petals smaller than the lobes 

 of the style. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 56 ; Smith, Eng. Bot. 578 ; Flore. Med. iv. 202; Lindley, 

 Fl. Med. 575. 



A common plant in wet situations, in most parts of Europe, and commonly 

 cultivated in our gardens. The root is acrid and astringent, and has been 

 recommended in scrofula. Cullen states that it is a powerful errhine, and 

 also acts as a cathartic and hydragogue. [Mat. Med. 261.) 



3. I. versicolor, Linn. — Rhizome horizontal, fleshy. Leaves ensiform, striated, sheath- 

 ing. Bracts scarious. Peduncles of different lengths, flattened on the inside. Sepals 

 spathulate, beardless. Petals erect, and with the sepals of a purplish colour, variegated 

 with green and white. Stigmas petaloid, purple. Capsule 3-sided, with roundish angles 



Linn., Sp. PL 57 ; Bot. Mag. 21 ; Bigelow, Med. Bot. i. t. 16 ; Barton, 

 Fl. Phil. Prod. i. 21. 



Common Names. — Blue Flag ; Flag Lily. 



A native of many parts of the United States in wet situations. The root 

 is officinal. When recent it has little or no odour, but an unpleasant acrid 

 taste which diminishes by age. It is cathartic, emetic, and diuretic. It was 

 a favourite remedy with the Southern Indians, and was used by them in most 

 cases requiring purgation. Dr. Elliott of Carolina, found it beneficial in 

 dropsy, and Dr. Bigelow states that it is an active purgative, but is very apt 

 to induce great nausea and prostration of strength. It is very seldom em- 

 ployed and might be advantageously stricken from the lists of the Materia 

 Medica. 



Our other native species, as I. virginica, verna, &c, have much the same 

 properties. Numerous foreign kinds are used in their respective countries 

 for a variety of purposes. /. dichotoma is employed in Siberia as an odontalgic, 

 according to Pallas. I. fcetidissima was known to Dioscorides, who states 

 that the root is a good vulnerary, and that its decoction is diuretic. It is 

 used in some parts of Europe for the same purposes as the /. pseud-acorus ; 

 the same may be said of I. germanica. The root of I. sibirica, is said by 

 Gmelin (Flor. Sib. i. 29) to be prescribed in Siberia in syphilis, and Pallas 

 states that it is astringent and vulnerary. One species, I. edulis, is edible, 

 and forms an article of diet to the Hottentots. 



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