medicinal herbs
Purple Flag
Iris germanica
Herb: Purple Flag
Latin name: Iris germanica
Family: Iridaceae (Iris Family)
Medicinal use of Purple Flag:
The root is diuretic, emetic, expectorant and mildly purgative. Another report says that the juice of the fresh root is a strong purge of great efficiency in the treatment of dropsy. In the past, sections of the dried root have been given to teething babies to chew on, though this has been discontinued for hygienic reasons. Roots of plants 2 - 3 years old are dug up after flowering and are then dried for later use.Description of the plant:
Plant:
PerennialHeight:
100 cm(3 1/4 foot)
Flowering:
May toJune
Scent:
ScentedPerennial
Habitat of the herb:
Dry rocky placesEdible parts of Purple Flag:
The root is dried and used as a flavouring.Other uses of the herb:
The root is a source of Orris powder which has the scent of violets. It is obtained by grinding up the dried root. It is much used as a fixative in perfumery and pot-pourri, as an ingredient of toothpastes, breath fresheners etc and as a food flavouring. The root can take several years of drying to fully develop its fragrance, when fresh it has an acrid flavour and almost no smell. An essential oil is obtained from the fresh root, this has the same uses as the root. The juice of the root is sometimes used as a cosmetic and also for the removal of freckles from the skin. A black dye is obtained from the root. A blue dye is obtained from the flowers. The seeds are used as rosary beads.Propagation of Purple Flag:
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. A sterile plant, it does not produce seed. Division, best done after flowering. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.Cultivation of the herb:
Dry rocky placesKnown hazards of Iris germanica:
The leaves, and especially the rhizomes, of this species contain an irritating resinous substance called irisin. If ingested this can cause severe gastric disturbances. Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in some people.Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.