Iris

Written by Carmin Nezat

Irises! There are several species of iris that grow in Louisiana, some native, some not, but- as Corinne Martin of the Louisiana Herb Journal says- they are still “collectively known as ‘Louisiana iris.’” Only in South Louisiana do “the Louisianians” or these collective 5 species grow alongside each other. “They are Iris brevicaulis aka “zigzag iris”, Iris fulva aka “copper iris”, Iris giganticaerulea aka “giant blue flag”, Iris hexagona aka “Dixie iris” and Iris nelsonii aka “Louisiana iris”. Iris brevicaulis and Iris fulva are native to the Mississippi valley from Louisiana to Ohio, and Iris giganticaerulea and Iris hexagona are found along the Gulf Coast from Mississippi to Texas.”(LSU Ag Center) 

The Cajuns refer to this plant as “glaie,” and the traditional use is as a poultice of the roots for sores, burns and rashes. According to the Bayou Vermillion Healer’s Garden Brochure, “Iris virginica” aka “Southern blue flag iris” is listed as the species that the Cajuns used medicinally, although it is not one of the ‘Louisianians.’ It is likely, though, that all accessible species of iris in and around Louisiana were used in the same manner.  

Iris sp. has been used by multiple Native American tribes in North America as de-toxicants (liver and kidney), dermatological aids, and pain-relievers. The Cherokee used Iris verna, Iris cristata and Iris virginica interchangeably; an infusion ‘for liver’, a compound root decoction for ‘yellowish urine’ and also as a topical salve for ulcers. The Mi’kmaq, who the original Cajuns engaged in regular trade with before their mass exile from Acadia in the mid 1700’s, are documented as using the root of Iris versicolor for treatment of wounds, sore throat, and cholera. The Creek are documented as using both Iris verna and Iris versicolor as a powerful cathartic herb. The Native American Ethnobotanical database refers to the “Broad Flag iris” (only documented under that common name) as a remedy used by the Seminole to specifically to treat alligator bites.   

Iris is especially active on the liver, where it's used to treat poor digestion, liver dysfunction, and to treat skin conditions. It has also been used for urinary tract infection, hypothyroidism, lymphadenopathy, and menstrual irregularities.  

Iris versicolor aka Blue Flag or Harlequin Blue Flag may be the most well known and documented as a frequently used species. It helps with chronic skin diseases and gallbladder problems, hypoglycemia associated with migraines, sugar cravings and red colored skin. The Louisiana Herb Journal lists Iris hexagona as an emmenogue; and Iris pseudocorous as an astringent, anti-cancer, carminative, diuretic, emetic, laxative, tonic and refrigerant herb.  

Orris root, as it is called in the Herbal Medicine world, can refer to the single species or a combination of both Iris pallida and Iris germanica. It is known to stimulate kidneys, digestion and increase bile flow. Also interestingly enough, it has been used as a very expensive ingredient in some perfumes, cosmetics, potpourris and also to flavor syrups and add fragrance to detergents.

1 pub1969LAIrisFORWEB2.pdf (lsuagcenter.com) 
2BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database. Iris virginica L. Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey, 1975, Cherokee Plants and Their Uses -- A 400 Year History, Sylva, N.C. Herald Publishing Co., page 4  
3 Healers-Garden-Brochure-Web.pdf (bayouvermiliondistrict.org). Blue Flag Iris.   
4BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database Chandler, R. Frank, Lois Freeman and Shirley N. Hooper, 1979, Herbal Remedies of the Maritime Indians, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1:49-68, page 57. 
5BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database Swanton, John R, 1928, Religious Beliefs and Medical Practices of the Creek Indians, SI-BAE Annual Report #42:473-672, page 66967. Taylor, Linda Averill, 1940, Plants Used As Curatives by Certain Southeastern Tribes, Cambridge, MA. Botanical Museum of Harvard University, page 10. 
6BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey, 1975, Cherokee Plants and Their Uses -- A 400 Year History, Sylva, N.C. Herald Publishing Co., page 41 
7Rain Garden Plants: Iris versicolor and Iris virginica | Home & Garden Information Center (clemson.edu)   
 8Iris (Iris versicolor) — Monograph (thesunlightexperiment.com)   
9The Modern Herbal Dispensatory. Thomas Easly and Steven Horne. 2016. Pg 191 Blue Flag Iris. 
10BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database Broad Flag iris. Sturtevant, William, 1954, The Mikasuki Seminole: Medical Beliefs and Practices, Yale University, PhD Thesis, page 298.  
11Martin, Corinne. The Louisiana Herb Journal. 2022. Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. P. 111-115. 
12Iris (Orris) Roots in Natural Perfumery – GATHER (gatherperfume.com) 
13Orris Root Powder (mountainroseherbs.com) 

Image 1 Taken by Ashlee Brackeen at Bayou Coquille