Irises

The Iris, to me ,is one of my favorite flowers,

exotic,sturdy,beautiful,returning every Spring,and So Lovely, like my wife.

My wife ,Soring, for whom a genus of Iris should be named after, has

planted hundreds,if not a thousand Irises.

She plants I take the pictures.

Every Spring, I look forward to their arrival in our garden.

Each with a scent,though some have little, the variation is amazing;

Chocolate,BubbleGum,Vanilla,Cinamon,Sweet, Intoxicating fragrances.

So,below is alittle bit of history.and some info on this lovely flower.




Meanings of Irises

With striking uniqueness and beauty, irises have rich meanings, and when given as gifts, they can convey deep sentiments. With over 200 varieties in a wide spectrum of colors, the iris, which fittingly takes its name from the Greek word for "rainbow," can be found in virtually every part of the world, growing both naturally and in farms. While garden irises can come in any of these many varieties, the flower's cut versions are mostly blue (the most popular type), white, and yellow.



The iris's history is rich, dating back to Ancient Greek times when the Greek Goddess Iris, the messenger of the gods and the personification of the rainbow, acted as the link between heaven and earth. Purple irises were planted over the graves of women to summon the Goddess to guide the dead in their journey. Ancient Egyptian kings marveled in the iris’s exotic nature, and drawings have been found of the flower in a number of Egyptian palaces. During the Middle Ages, the meaning of irises became linked to the French monarchy, and the Fleur-de-lis eventually became the recognized national symbol of France. From their earliest years, irises were used to make perfume and as a medicinal remedy. Today, they are primarily seen in gardens, in bouquets, and in the wild all over the world.



Through its intricate history, the meanings of the iris has come to include faith, hope, and wisdom. Depending on factors such as color and region, irises may bear additional meanings as well. In some parts of the world, the dark blue or purple iris can denote royalty, whereas the yellow iris can be a symbol of passion. Irises may also express courage and admiration. The many meanings of the iris makes the flower a great choice for an array of gift giving occasions: corporate, sympathy, get well, thinking of you, and birthday are just some of the occasions for which irises might be the perfect choice.

Today, the iris is the state flower of Tennessee, and the Fleur-de-lis is the emblem for the city of New Orleans. Irises are cultivated all over the world, and they can be found naturally in Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, Asia, and North America.


Iris (plant)
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Other plants named "iris" are found elsewhere in the Iridaceae.
Iris

Blood Iris (Iris sanguinea),
known as ayame in Japan
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

(unranked): Monocots

Order: Asparagales

Family: Iridaceae

Subfamily: Iridoideae

Tribe: Irideae

Genus: Iris
L.
Type species
Iris germanica
L.
Subgenera
Hermodactyloides
Iris
Limniris
Nepalensis
Scorpiris
Xiphium

Synonyms
Iridodictyum
Juno
Junopsis
Xiphion


Iris is a genus of between 200–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species.[1] As well as being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a common name; for one thing, it refers to all Iris species, though some plants called thus belong to other closely related genera. In North America, a common name for irises is 'flags', while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as 'junos', particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower in the United States.

The genera Belamcanda (blackberry lily), Hermodactylus (snake's head iris), Neomarica (walking iris) and Pardanthopsis are sometimes included in Iris.



Rhizomes of ornamental irises
Iris persica, a bulbous iris
Iris reichenbachii fruitThe genus is widely distributed throughout the north temperate zone. Their habitats are considerably varied, ranging from cold and montane regions to the grassy slopes, meadowlands and riverbanks of Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, Asia and across North America.

Irises are perennial herbs, growing from creeping rhizomes (rhizomatous irises), or, in drier climates, from bulbs (bulbous irises). They have long, erect flowering stems, which may be simple or branched, solid or hollow, and flattened or have a circular cross-section. The rhizomatous species usually have 3–10 basal, sword-shaped leaves growing in dense clumps. The bulbous species have cylindrical, basal leaves.

The inflorescences are fan-shaped and contain one or more symmetrical six-lobed flowers. These grow on a pedicel or lack a footstalk. The three sepals, which are spreading or droop downwards, are referred to as "falls". They expand from their narrow base, which in some of the rhizomatous irises has a "beard" (a tuft of short upright extensions growing in its midline), into a broader expanded portion ("limb"), often adorned with veining, lines or dots. The three, sometimes reduced, petals stand upright, partly behind the sepal bases. They are called "standards". Some smaller iris species have all six lobes pointing straight outwards, but generally, limb and standards differ markedly in appearance. They are united at their base into a floral tube that lies above the ovary (known as an inferior ovary). The styles divide towards the apex into petaloid branches; this is significant in pollination.

The iris flower is of special interest as an example of the relation between flowering plants and pollinating insects. The shape of the flower and the position of the pollen-receiving and stigmatic surfaces on the outer petals form a landing-stage for a flying insect, which in probing the perianth for nectar, will first come in contact of perianth, then with the stigmatic stamens in one whorled surface which is borne on an ovary formed of three carpels. The shelf-like transverse projection on the inner whorled underside of the stamens is beneath the over-arching style arm below the stigma, so that the insect comes in contact with its pollen-covered surface only after passing the stigma; in backing out of the flower it will come in contact only with the non-receptive lower face of the stigma. Thus, an insect bearing pollen from one flower will, in entering a second, deposit the pollen on the stigma; in backing out of a flower, the pollen which it bears will not be rubbed off on the stigma of the same flower.

The iris fruit is a capsule which opens up in three parts to reveal the numerous seeds within. In some species, these bear an aril.


[edit] Systematics and taxonomy
Up to 300 species – many of them natural hybrids – have been placed in the genus Iris. Modern classifications, starting with W. R. Dykes' 1913 book, have subdivided them. Dykes referred to the major subgroupings as sections, but later authors have generally called them subgenera, while essentially retaining his groupings. Like some older sources, the influential classification by G. I. Rodionenko removed some groups (particularly the bulbous irises) to separate genera, but even if this is done the genus remains large and several subgenera, sections and/or subsections are recognised within it.[2]

In general, modern classifications usually recognise six subgenera, of which five are restricted to the Old World; the sixth (subgenus Limniris) has a Holarctic distribution. The two largest subgenera are further divided into sections.

[edit] Subgenus Iris
Bearded rhizomatous irises


Stool Iris (Iris aphylla) flower. Note prominent white "beard".
Iris reichenbachiiSection Iris

Iris albertii
Iris albicans – White Cemetery Iris, White Flag Iris
Iris amoena DC. (= I. variegata?)
Iris aphylla L. – Stool Iris (including I. benacensis, I. nudicaulis)
Iris attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) Hayek
Iris × buriensis Lem.
Iris croatica
Iris cypriana Foster & Baker
Iris flavescens Delile – Lemon-yellow Iris (= I. variegata?)
Iris furcata Bieb.
Iris germanica L. – German Iris (includes I. × barbata)
Iris × germanica nothovar. florentina Dykes
Iris glaucescens Bunge
Iris glockiana O.Schwarz
Iris illyrica (often included in I. pallida)
Iris imbricata Lindl.
Iris junonia Schott ex Kotschy
Iris × lurida Aiton (I. pallida × I. variegata, including I. neglecta, I. squalens)
Iris lutescens Lam. (including I. italica)
Iris marsica I.Ricci & Colas.
Iris mesopotamica – Mesopotamian Iris
Iris orjenii – Orjen Iris
Iris pallida – Sweet Iris, Dalmatian Iris
Iris perrieri Simonet ex P.Fourn.
Iris pseudopumila Tineo
Iris pumila L.
Iris purpureobractea B.Mathew & T.Baytop
Iris reichenbachii Heuff. – Reichenbach's Iris
Iris sambucina L.
Iris scariosa Willd. ex Link
Iris schachtii Markgr.
Iris suaveolens Boiss. & Reut. (including I. iliensis)
Iris subbiflora Brot.
Iris taochia Woronow ex Grossh.
Iris timofejewii Woronow
Iris variegata L. – Hungarian Iris



Nazareth Iris, Iris bismarckiana
Iris humilis ssp. arenariaSection Oncocyclus

Iris acutiloba C.A.Mey. (including I. ewbankiana)
Iris assadiana Chaudhary, Kirkw. & C.Weymolauth
Iris atrofusca Bak.
Iris atropurpurea Bak.
Iris barnumae Bak. & Fost.
Iris bismarckiana Reg. – Nazareth Iris
Iris camillae Grossh.
Iris gatesii Foster
Iris haynei (Bak.) Mallet. – Gilboa Iris
Iris hermona Dinsmore – Hermon Iris
Iris iberica Hoffm.
Iris kirkwoodi (including I. calcarea)
Iris lortetii Barbey ex Boiss.
Iris mariae Barbey.
Iris meda Stapf
Iris paradoxa Steven
Iris petrana Dinsm.
Iris polakii Stapf
Iris sari Schott ex Bak.
Iris sofarana Fost.
Iris susiana L. – Mourning Iris
Section Hexapogon

Iris falcifolia Bunge
Iris longiscapa Ledeb.
Section Psammiris

Iris bloudowii Ledeb.
Iris humilis Georgi
Iris kamelinii Alexeeva
Iris mandschurica Maxim.
Iris potaninii Maxim.
Iris vorobievii N.S.Pavlova
Section Pseudoregelia

Iris goniocarpa Bak.
Iris hookeriana Fost.
Iris kamaonensis Wall.
Iris sikkimensis Dykes
Iris tigrida Bunge ex Ledeb.
Section Regelia

Iris hoogiana Dykes
Iris korolkowii Regel
Iris stolonifera Maxim.


[edit] Subgenus Limniris
Beardless rhizomatous irises

Section Limniris


Japanese Iris (Iris ensata) or hanashōbu, cv. 'Kumoinogan'
Iris graminea
Yellow-banded Iris, Iris orientalis
Blood Iris (Iris sanguinea) or ayameIris acoroides Spach
Iris bracteata – Siskiyou Iris
Iris brevicaulis Raf. – Zigzag Iris
Iris bulleyana Dykes
Iris caespitosa Pall. & Link
Iris chrysographes – Black Iris
Iris chrysophylla – Yellow-leaved Iris
Iris clarkei Bak.
Iris crocea Jacquem. ex R.C.Foster (including I. aurea)
Iris delavayi Micheli
Iris demetrii Achv. & Mirzoeva
Iris douglasiana – Douglas Iris
Iris ensata Thunb. – Japanese Iris, hanashōbu (Japanese) (including I. kaempferi)
Iris fernaldii – Fernald's Iris
Iris foetidissima – Stinking Iris, Gladwin Iris, Stinking Gladwin, Gladdon, Roast-beef Plant
Iris forrestii Dykes
Iris fulva Ker-Gawl. – Copper Iris
Iris giganticaerulea – Giant Blue Iris, Giant Blue Flag
Iris graminea L.
Iris grant-duffii Bak.
Iris hartwegii – Hartweg's Iris, Rainbow Iris, Sierra Iris
Iris hexagona Walt. – Dixie Iris
Iris hookeri Penny – Hooker's Iris
Iris innominata – Del Norte Iris
Iris kerneriana Asch. & Sint.
Iris koreana Nakai
Iris lactea Pall.
Iris laevigata – Rabbitear Iris, Shallow-flowered Iris, kakitsubata (Japanese)
Iris lazica Albov
Iris loczyi Kanitz
Iris longipetala Herb.
Iris lorea Jank.
Iris ludwigii Maxim.
Iris maackii Maxim.
Iris macrosiphon – Bowltube Iris
Iris missouriensis – Rocky Mountain Iris, Western Blue Flag
Iris monnieri DC.
Iris munzii – Munz's Iris, Tulare Lavender Iris
Iris nelsonii Randolph – Abbeville Iris
Iris notha M.Bieb.
Iris orientalis Mill. – Yellow-banded Iris
Iris pontica Zapal.
Iris prismatica Pursh ex Ker-Gawl. – Slender Blue Flag
Iris pseudacorus – Yellow Iris, Yellow Flag
Iris purdyi – Purdy's Iris
Iris × robusta E.Anders. – Robust Iris (I. versicolor × I. virginica)
Iris ruthenica Ker-Gawl.
Iris × sancti-cyri Rouss. – Sanctimonious Iris[verification needed] (I. hookeri × I. versicolor)
Iris sanguinea Hornem. ex Donn – Blood Iris, ayame (Japanese)
Iris setosa Pallas ex Link – Beachhead Iris
Iris sibirica – Siberian Iris
Iris sintenisii Janka
Iris sintenisii ssp. brandzae Prodan
Iris songarica Schrenk
Iris spuria – Blue Iris
Iris spuria ssp. maritima – Seashore Iris
Iris tenax – Tough-leaved Iris, Oregon Iris
Iris tenuifolia Pall.
Iris tenuissima Dykes – Long-tubed Iris
Iris thompsonii R.C.Foster – Thompson's Iris (formerly in I. innominata)
Iris tridentata Pursh – Savanna Iris
Iris unguicularis Poir. (including I. speciosa, I. stylosa)
Iris uniflora Pall.
Iris ventricosa Pall.
Iris verna L. – Dwarf Violet Iris
Iris versicolor – Larger Blue Flag, Harlequin Blueflag
Iris × vinicolor Small – Vinicolor Iris, Wine-coloured Iris (I. fulva × I. giganticaerulea)
Iris virginica L. – Virginia Iris
Iris wilsonii C.H.Wright



Iris wattiiSection Lophiris

Iris confusa – Bamboo Iris
Iris cristata – Crested Iris
Iris gracilipes A.Gray
Iris japonica Thunb.
Iris lacustris – Dwarf Lake Iris
Iris milesii Foster

Iris milesiiIris tectorum Maxim. – Wall Iris
Iris tenuis S.Wats. – Clackamas Iris
Iris wattii Baker ex Hook.f.
[edit] Subgenus Xiphium
Smooth-bulbed bulbous irises. Formerly genus Xiphion.


Yellow Spanish Iris, Iris xiphium var. lusitanicaSection Xiphium

Iris boissieri Henriq
Iris filifolia Boiss.
Iris juncea Poir.
Iris latifolia – English Iris
Iris serotina Willk. in Willk. & Lange
Iris tingitana Boiss. & Reut. – Morocco Iris
Iris xiphium – Spanish Iris, Dutch Iris, Small Bulbous-rooted Iris
[edit] Subgenus Nepalensis
Bulbous irises. Formerly genus Junopsis.

Section Nepalensis

Iris collettii Hook.
Iris decora Wall.
[edit] Subgenus Scorpiris
Smooth-bulbed bulbous irises known as "junos". Formerly genus Juno.


Iris palaestinaSection Scorpiris

Iris albomarginata R.C.Foster
Iris aucheri (Baker) Sealy (including I. sindjarensis)
Iris bucharica Foster
Iris caucasica Hoffm.
Iris cycloglossa Wendelbo
Iris fosteriana Aitch. & Baker
Iris graeberiana Tubergen ex Sealy
Iris magnifica Vved.
Iris narynensis O.Fedtsch.
Iris nusairiensis Monterode
Iris palaestina (Bak.) Boiss.
Iris persica L.
Iris planifolia (Mill.) Fiori & Paol.
Iris pseudocaucasica Grossh.
Iris regis-uzziae Feinbrun
Iris rosenbachiana Reg.
Iris vicaria Vved.


[edit] Subgenus Hermodactyloides

Iris reticulataReticulate-bulbed bulbous irises. Formerly genus Iridodictyum.

Section Hermodactyloides

Iris bakeriana Foster
Iris danfordiae (Baker) Boiss.
Iris histrio Rchb.f.
Iris histrioides (G.F.Wilson) S.Arn.
Iris kolpakowskiana Regel
Iris pamphylica Hedge
Iris reticulata Bieb.
Iris vartanii Fost.
Iris winogradowii Fomin
[edit] Uses
[edit] In horticulture
Irises are extensively grown as ornamental plants in home and botanical gardens. Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in New Jersey, for example, is a living iris museum with over 10,000 plants, while in Europe the most famous iris garden is arguably the Giardino dell'Iris in Florence (Italy) which every year hosts one of the most famous iris breeders' competitions in the world.

The most commonly found garden iris is the bearded German Iris (I. germanica), a hybridogenic species, and its numerous cultivars. Various wild forms and naturally occurring hybrids of the Sweet Iris (I. pallida) and the Hungarian Iris (I. variegata) form the basis of most all modern hybrid bearded irises. Median forms of bearded iris (intermediate bearded, or IB; miniature tall bearded, or MTB; etc.) are derived from crosses between tall and dwarf varieties.

The bearded irises are easy to cultivate and propagate, and have become very popular in gardens. They grow in any good free garden soil, the smaller and more delicate species needing only the aid of turf ingredients, either peat or loam, to keep it light and open in texture. The earliest to bloom are species like I. junonia and I. reichenbachii, which flower as early as February and March, followed by the dwarf forms of I. pumila which blossom during March, April and May. During the latter month and the following one, most of the larger-growing "tall bearded" irises bloom, such as the German Iris and its variety florentina, Sweet Iris, Hungarian Iris, Lemon-yellow Iris (I. flavescens), Iris sambucina, I. amoena, and their natural and horticultural hybrids such as those described under names like I. neglecta or I. squalens and best united unter I. × lurida.

The section Oncocyclus contains the cushion irises or royal irises, a group of plants noted for their large, strongly marked flowers. Between 30 and 60 species are classified in this section, depending on the authority. Compared with other irises the cushion varieties are scantily furnished with narrow sickle-shaped leaves and the flowers are usually borne singly on the stalks; they are often very dark and in some almost blackish. The cushion irises are somewhat fastidious growers, and to be successful with them they must be planted rather shallow in very gritty well-drained soil. They should not be disturbed in the autumn, and after the leaves have withered the roots should be protected from heavy rains until growth starts again naturally.

The section Regelia, closely allied to the cushion irises, includes several garden hybrids with species in section Oncocyclus, known as Regelio-cyclus irises. They are best planted in September or October in warm sunny positions, the rhizomes being lifted the following July after the leaves have withered.

A truly red bearded iris remains an unattained goal despite frequent hybridizing and selection. There are species and selections, most notably based on the beardless rhizomatous Copper Iris (I. fulva), which have a relatively pure red color. However, getting this color into a modern bearded iris breed has proven very difficult, and thus, the vast majority of irises are in the purple and blue range of the color spectrum, with yellow and whitish breeds also quite frequent.

Other beardless rhizomatous iris types commonly found in garden are the Siberian Iris (I. sibirica) and its hybrids, and the Japanese Iris (I. ensata) and its hybrids. "Japanese iris" is also a catch-all term for the Japanese Iris proper (hanashōbu), the Blood Iris (I. sanguinea, ayame) and the Rabbitear Iris (I. laevigata, kakitsubata). I. unguicularis is a late-winter-flowering species from Algeria, with sky-blue flowers blotched with yellow, produced (in the Northern Hemisphere) from November to March or April. Yet another beardless rhizomatous iris popular in gardening is I. ruthenica, which has much the same requirements and characteristics as the "tall bearded" irises.

Many of the smaller species of bulbous iris, being liable to perish from excess of moisture, should have a well-drained bed of good but porous soil made up for them, in some sunny spot, and in winter should be protected by a covering of half-decayed leaves or fresh cocos-fibre refuse. To this group belong the "reticulate" irises with their characteristic bulbs, including I. danfordiae, I. histrioides, I. reticulata and others, as well as the smmoth-bulbed I. filifolia, which flower as early as February and March

Giardino dell'Iris in Florence
The bearded iris cultivar 'Mary Todd'
Chestnut cultivars like 'Samurai Warrior' are the closest breeder have been able to get to a "red" bearded iris
Iris atropurpurea, one of the dark-flowered Oncocyclus bearded irises

Iris unguicularis flower
'Katharine Hodginkin', a bulbous iris cultivar, a hybrid between I. winogradowii and I. histrioides 'Major'.
Iris kemaonensis in Himalaya
Iris pseudacorus in Cheshire in England


[edit] Aromatic rhizomes

Bombay Sapphire gin contains flavoring derived from particular bearded iris speciesRhizomes of the German Iris (I. germanica) and Sweet Iris (I. pallida) are traded as orris root and are used in perfume and medicine, though more common in ancient times than today. Today Iris essential oil (absolute) from flowers are sometimes used in aromatherapy as sedative medicines. The dried rhizomes are also given whole to babies to help in teething. Gin brands such as Bombay Sapphire and Magellan Gin use orris root and sometimes iris flowers for flavor and color.

For orris root production, iris rhizomes are harvested, dried, and aged for up to 5 years. In this time, the fats and oils inside the roots undergo degradation and oxidation, which produces many fragrant compounds that are valuable in perfumery. The scent is said to be similar to violets. The aged rhizomes are steam-distilled which produces a thick oily compound, known in the perfume industry as "iris butter".

Iris rhizomes also contain notable amounts of terpenes, and organic acids such as ascorbic acid, myristic acid, tridecylenic acid and undecylenic acid. Iris rhizomes can be toxic. Larger Blue Flag (I. versicolor) and other species often grown in gardens and widely hybridized contain elevated amounts of the toxic glycoside iridin. These rhizomes can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or skin irritation, but poisonings are not normally fatal. Irises should only be used medicinally under professional guidance.

[edit] In water purification
Further information: Organisms_used_in_water_purification
Further information: Treatment_pond

Flowering Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) at a treatment pondIn water purification, Yellow Iris (I. pseudacorus) is used. The roots are usually planted in a substrate (e.g. lava-stone) in a reedbed-setup. The roots then improve water quality by consuming nutrient pollutants, such as from agricultural runoff.

[edit] In art and symbolism
The artist George Gessert has specialised in breeding irises.[3]

The artist Vincent van Gogh painted several famous pictures of irises.[4]

The American artist, Joseph Mason — a great friend of John James Audubon — painted a precise image of what was then known as the Lousianna Flag or Copper Iris (Iris cuprea) to which Audubon subsequently added two Northern Paraula birds (parula americana) for inclusion as Plate 15 in his Birds of America.

The artist Philip Hermogenes Calderon painted an iris in his 1856 work Broken Vows; he followed the principles of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. An ancient belief is that the iris serves as a warning to be heeded, as it was named for the messenger of Olympus. It also conveys images of lost love and silent grief, for young girls were led into the afterlife by Iris. Broken Vows was accompanied with poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow when it was first exhibited.[5]

The fleur-de-lis, a stylized iris, first occurs in its modern use as the emblem of the House of Capet. The fleur-de-lis has been associated with France as Louis VII adopted it as a symbol in the 12th Century. The yellow fleur-de-lis reflects the Yellow Iris (I. pseudacorus), common in Western Europe. Contemporary uses can be seen in the Quebec flag and the logo of the New Orleans Saints professional football team, and on the flag of Saint Louis, Missouri.

The red fleur-de-lis in the coat-of-arms of Florence (Italy) descends from the white iris which is native to Florence and which grew even in its city walls. This white iris, displayed against a red background, became the symbol of Florence until the Medici family, to signal a change in political power, reversed the colors making the white one red and setting in motion a centuries-long breeding program to hybridize a red iris.

Furthermore, the fleur-de-lis is the almost-universal symbol of Scouting and one of the symbols adopted by the sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma.

A stylized Yellow Iris is the symbol of Brussels, since historically, the important Saint Gaugericus Island was carpeted in them.[6] The iris symbol is now the sole feature on the flag of the Brussels-Capital Region.

An iris – species unspecified – is one of the state flowers of Tennessee. Tradition holds that the particular iris symbolizing Tennessee is a purple cultivar, to go alongside the wild-growing Purple Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) which is the state's other floral emblem.

The provincial flower of Québec (Canada) is the Harlequin Blueflag (I. versicolor), called iris versicolore in French.

Philip Hermogenes Calderon's Broken Vows with the iris at lower left
Coat-of-arms of the House of Capet
Coat-of-arms of Florence
Flag of the Brussels-Capital Region

Coat of Arms of Ukraine is a stylized iris[verification needed], a symbol of the Perun (thunder god) from the pagan antiquity.


[edit] See also
List of early spring flowers
List of late spring flowers
List of early summer flowers
[edit] References
1.^ Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2008). The Iris Family: Natural History & Classification. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 200–204. ISBN 0-88192-897-6.
2.^ Dyke (1913), Rodionenko (1961)
3.^ West [2008]
4.^ Pioch (2002)
5.^ Mancoff (2003): p.6,16
6.^ CPM-KB [2007]
Chancery of the Prime Minister, Kingdom of Belgium (CPM-KB) [2007]: Brussels Town Hall. Retrieved 2007-NOV-11.
Dykes, W.R. (1913): The genus Iris. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Mancoff, Debra N. (2003): Flora Symbolica: Flowers in Pre-Raphaelite Art. Prestel Publishing, New York, USA. ISBN 3-7913-2851-4
Pioch, Nicolas (2002): Gogh, Vincent van: Irises. Bersion of 2002-AUG-19. Retrieved 2008-DEC-10.
Rodionenko, G.I. (1961): The genus Iris L.. Moscow and Leningrad.
Species Group of the British Iris Society (1996): A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation; Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. ISBN 0-521-44074-2
West, Ruth [2008]: George Gessert. Retrieved 2008-DEC-10.
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Iris (Iridaceae)

Joseph Mason's painting - Copper Iris Copper Iris / Lousianna Flag (Iris cuprea) from John James Audubon's Birds of America
Kew Checklist: Iris
Flora of North America: Iris
Flora of China: Iris
Flora of Pakistan: Iris
Flora of Nepal: Iris
Iris Species
A web site devoted to Irises, by David Payne-Joyce; includes plates from Dykes (1913).
The American Iris Society
Iris taxonomy in GBIF Biodiversity Data Portal
Historic Iris Preservation Society
Iris listings at Wild Flowers of Israel
Bearded Iris colors
Iris in Art and Culture
Gouvernement du Québec Emblèmes du Québec - Iris versicolor (french)