There are many kinds of iris - the most common as it is named 'Germanica'
or 'flamed' in its common name.
Irises were previously used as an expectorant and as cautery. They are now used in perfumery, especially in regard to the iris 'Pallida Lamk' (a light blue iris).
To do this we use the rhizomes of two or three years, unearthed in August and peeled and washed. They are then dried, preferably in the open sun. Once dried rhizomes take a smell of violets due to compounds called irones.
Apart from its use in perfumery, irises are of course also present in many gardens in various robes of different colors. Vilmorin, already 1866, counted thirty species!
Etymologically the term means Iris 'Rainbow' (referring also to the iris of the eye).
Iris was also the name of the daughter of Thaumas and Electra, and sister of the Harpies. It was, according to the poets, the messenger of Hera. As its name means Rainbow, they wanted to mark where she announced the change of air, which is the goddess Juno. They were also the daughter of Thaumas, ie admiration, because of the variety of colors.(From the dictionary Moreri 1725)
We can also mention that this Ivigne said in his dictionary in 1663 (see one of my other Web-sites) :
Iris & Thaumas daughter Electra, and sister of the Harpies, according to Hesiod in his Theogonne (which deals with the generation of the Gods). Seignent the poets & the messenger of Juno new carrier, the saying be with this goddess, what Mercury with Jupiter. They themselves believe that no woman's soul could not dissolve the body, except through him as no men except by means of Mercury. They represented a variety of colors to dress tucked half to show his readiness to command his mistress ... By the Iris, the ancients understood the Rainbow, and call'd Eirein Greek verb, which means to say or announce what it means rain. She is the messenger of Juno ie air: & daughter Thaumas, which means all the wonders that the reformation of the meteor's all admirable, his colorful dress of various colors, blue & spécialment & Red designates the two ruins of the world, namely the blue, it happened in the waters of the Deluge and the other is red mark behind the burning & total destruction of this world, which must arrive by fire so he was given to Noah in sign of peace, the land would be submerged by the waters - Genesis 9.
See also iris in the series 'Garden Flowers'
Photography for the week 21 of 2012 |
