| Irises are found all around the world except in | | | | The iris has been around for many centuries, and |
| extremely cold regions. Its common and genus | | | | many artists have chosen to paint them. There |
| names are both iris. The family is iridaceous. Many | | | | are several famous paintings of the flowers. From |
| people call the plant flags because its leaves grow | | | | 1888 to 1890, Vincent van Gogh painted at least |
| in the shape of a paper fan. Irises can be either | | | | four paintings of irises. Claude Oscar Monet |
| rhizomes or bulbs. Some of the varieties include | | | | painted "Iris" sometime between 1914 and 1917. A |
| Japanese, German, Siberian, and Dutch irises. The | | | | couple more paintings are dated back to the 1400 |
| upper petals of the blooms are called standards | | | | and 1500's, but the actual artists are unknown. |
| and the lower petals are called falls. | | | | Not only is the iris a beautiful flower, but also they |
| The iris flower is available in a variety of colors | | | | have several uses. As a live plant they are used |
| and every year it seems that more colors are | | | | as a water purifier. After harvesting, the rhizomes |
| available. In fact, the name iris is Greek and it | | | | are known be used for teething babies. They are |
| means rainbow for its many colors. However, | | | | ingredients in some perfumes, homemade |
| most irises are shades of blue or purple. The | | | | toothpaste, pottery and herbal medicines. Even |
| majority of irises that we see today are hybrids | | | | though it is used in some medicines, a part of the |
| of the originals. | | | | iris is poisonous if it is ingested. |