Iris versicolor (Purple flag)

  • Rowan McOnegal
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Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

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Iris versicolor (Purple flag). Rowan McOnegal. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Purple and yellow-veined flower at top of stem. Has long, sword-shaped leaves. The rhizome is known pharmaceutically as orris root which is used in the cosmetics industry for the manufacture of face powder and in scented pot pourri. Oil of orris, obtained by distillation, is called 'orris butter'. It smells strongly of violets and is much used in the perfume industry. It has also been used in herbal remedies as a diuretic and expectorant.

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