Flamboyant and fabulous the Iris reigns supreme. Its distinctive flower is highly symbolic in western culture and its rhizomes have been used for hundreds of years in recipes for high class perfumes, medicines and as flavouring for gin.
Iris is the largest genus of the family Iridaceae with up to 300 species and thousands of hybrids. They are perennials, growing from creeping rhizomes or bulbs. Nearly all species of Iris are found in temperate Northern hemisphere zones, particularly from Eurasia to Asia.
They are a highly popular ornamental plant in domestic and botanic gardens. The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in New Jersey boasts 14,000 irises of approximately 3,000 varieties.
The Iris takes its name from the Greek Goddess Iris, whose main symbol was the rainbow. The Goddess Iris was a messenger to the gods and this led to the flower being regarded as a warning. Irises are also associated with lost love and silent grief.
The famous fleur-de-lis is said to be a stylised rendition of the Iris. In addition to being a popular heraldic symbol in Europe, it is the symbol of the Scouts, an inter-national youth movement.
Founder of the Scouts, Baden Powell adopted the fleur-de-lis as the basis for the Scout’s symbol because it was commonly used to represent “north” on the compass rose. It subsequently became associated with leadership and knowing “the right way to go”.
The rhizomes of certain species of the iris are cultivated and processed to create orris butter a highly valuable ingredient in high class perfumes. Orris butter is said to have a similar fragrance to violets.
The rhizomes are still used as flavouring for Bombay Sapphire Gin along with many other botanical substances including juniper berries, almonds, liquorice, angelica root, coriander seeds and cassia bark.
Irises are currently in full bloom in the Sensory Gardens and Shoyoen at the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden.
By Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan