Iris is a killer whale (answer)
A very easy answer was given in the program on Channel One. If I were a member of the "field of miracles", I would immediately give the right answer, Russian name iris. For, killer whale is his second, legal name. For beauty, apparently, he awarded the people with such a nickname, which was fixed in scholarly books forever. But, due to the approaching summer season, let's talk a little about its reproduction, so that there are more of these rainbow colors on your discounts.
Reproduction of iris (iris) is very easy. Due to the fact that the rhizome of the iris is very powerful, the most popular way is to divide the bush with a shovel. Depends on the strength of your irises and the desire to make another beautiful spot by fitting it into an existing flower bed, or split the iris in order to take up a second landscape, flower arrangement. Those. literally, approach the flower bush and cut it into two or three parts, carefully digging out the transplanted process with a clod of earth. The rest of the bush is simply sprinkled with earth and rammed. The second way, as shown in Fig. 2, is to cut the dug roots with a knife and plant them in the spring in the planned places. A good method, the downside is that for this you need to be able to properly store the rhizomes in winter so that they do not disappear. And, of course, the storage place itself, which will not be so easy to find in an apartment. See the following tips for caring for irises below.
Iris- an ornamental plant, a representative of the Kasatikov family. Scientists consider Asia to be the birthplace of this flower. Iris is also found in Europe and North America.
Irises are considered one of the most beautiful and common flowers. They can be found in flower beds, in city parks, in summer cottages. The plant is erect stem with green flat leaves and big flowers different shades (see photo). Iris flowers will not only decorate any flower bed, but also help fight some diseases. Also, this plant is used in cooking to create amazingly delicious dessert dishes.
The flower got its name due to the colorful flowers, because iris is translated as "rainbow". The plant was named by Hippocrates in honor of the goddess of the rainbow, Iris. According to one of the legends, when Prometheus gave fire to people, a rainbow arose: nature was so happy about this event. The rainbow could be observed all day long, and when it disappeared in the morning, people noticed that amazing flowers bloomed all over the earth, which reminded their appearance rainbow. Also exists ancient belief that millions of years ago, when the iris first bloomed, the plant turned out to be so amazing that not only animals and birds, but also natural elements came to see this beauty. Having admired the flower, the wind carried its seeds all over the earth so that the iris could be admired everywhere. The Romans also named Florence after irises, because in translation its name means “blooming” (at that time a lot of irises grew in this Etruscan settlement).
Our ancestors considered iris a powerful aphrodisiac: the powder from its rhizome supposedly caused sexual desire in both men and women. The aroma of iris people found very exciting and setting up for a love pastime.
Growing irises
You can grow irises on suburban area. This plant does not require special care. The flower prefers a sunny area and fertile soil.
Irises have some growing characteristics. One of them is that the rhizomes of the plant grow horizontally and in the process of growth can be on the surface. Due to this it is recommended to sprinkle the roots with peat or earth for the winter so that they do not freeze out. Wherein plant should not be planted too deep. Of course, this will not kill the iris, but it will not bloom either.
Flower care consists of regular watering and fertilizer (mineral fertilizers are suitable for the latter).
Collection and storage
Collection of irises is carried out in the second year of plant life. The rhizome is dug up in August. To begin with, it is thoroughly washed and dried in the sun or in dryers. Store the collected raw materials in a cool room. The root contains 0.2-0.7% essential oil iris. To obtain the oil, the flowers of the plant are also harvested, which are then processed by extraction.
Medicinal properties
The medicinal properties of irises are due to the chemical composition of plants. Their rhizomes contain valuable essential oil, which is used in perfumery, cosmetology, and medicine. And in the composition were found ascorbic acid, sugar, essential oil, flavonoids, carotenoids, fatty oils, tannins and glycosides. Iris leaves contain a large dose of vitamin C, which protects cells from premature aging, acting as an antioxidant, and also improves defensive forces organism.
In cosmetology, iris extract is used to care for the skin of the face and head. The plant has powerful regenerating properties, which allows it to be used as an active ingredient in cosmetics. sensitive skin care. Iris essential oil has a delicate, slightly sweet aroma and yellowish-brown color. In aromatherapy, essential oil is used externally to relax, relieve tension, and eliminate pain. Iris oil is widely used for the production of perfumes and colognes. The crushed rhizome can be used instead of cosmetic powder. It is also added to tooth powders.
Iris is used for cooking eye drops. Drops have a pronounced bactericidal effect, kill bacteria(even Pseudomonas aeruginosa). They can be used for conjunctivitis, corneal lesions. The tool is widely used to treat keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, iridocyclitis in pets - dogs and cats.
Iris seeds have found their use in flavoring some alcoholic beverages. They are also used in place of coffee beans.
In India, this plant is known as an astringent.
Toffee can be chewed on by young children when they are teething.
Application in cooking
In cooking, iris has found application in the preparation of certain dishes. The flower is an excellent spice that can be added to confectionery. The crushed root is used as a natural flavor.
In Armenia, you can often find jam from iris petals. In order to get this tasty and original dish, it is necessary to collect a sufficient number of white iris petals. Only fresh, unprocessed irises, which are cut in the early morning, are suitable for jam. Flowers are carefully sorted and washed in cold water to wash away all the dust. Then the petals are placed in an enamel bowl and sprinkled with sugar. When they give juice, the petals are poured with water and boiled until tender. Ready jam is poured into jars. For one serving, 100 grams of flowers will be enough.
Orris root is also called orris root. It is used for baking, alcoholic beverages. He is well known for African cuisine. In Morocco, iris is combined with other popular fragrances, such as rose scent. The root has a bittersweet taste. It is often used along with other spices. In Moroccan cuisine, toffee is placed in the national dish "tagine". Also, he is part of spice mixture called ras el khanout. This seasoning is widely known in North Africa.
The benefits of iris and treatment
The benefits of the plant are known folk medicine. For medicinal purposes, varieties such as Florentine and German iris are used. Most of the active substances are concentrated in the rhizomes of the plant, which is why they are used most often.
Iris infusions are used for toothache. Due to the high content of vitamin C, the plant is effective in scurvy.
Homeopaths prepare remedies based on iris for the treatment of the pancreas.
The rhizome of the iris has expectorant properties. In addition, its infusion perfectly cleanses the blood. Prepare it from 15 grams of crushed rhizomes and a glass of boiling water. Take the infusion inside 5-6 times a day for a tablespoon.
Iris has diuretic effect, which allows it to be used in diseases of the bladder.
For the treatment of angina, stomatitis, iris decoction is prepared, which is used to rinse the mouth or sore throat. A decoction is prepared from a teaspoon of rhizomes and a glass of water. Non-healing wounds and ulcers are washed with the same decoction.
With cough, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, colds prepare a decoction of iris, which is taken in 0.5 cups. This infusion is also indicated for bladder cancer.
Can be cooked at home alcohol tincture . To do this, take 1 part of the rhizome and pour 10 parts of alcohol. Tincture is taken 10-20 drops three times a day for pain and stomach cramps. Before use, the tincture is diluted in a glass boiled water. The tool is effective for chronic diseases lungs. Iris tincture stops the growth of tubercle bacillus.
Iris harm and contraindications
The plant can cause harm to the body with individual intolerance.
Iris flowers have been known to man since ancient times. On the island of Crete, among the paintings of the Palace of Knossos, a fresco depicts a priest surrounded by blooming irises. This fresco is about 4000 years old. Iris flowers are imprinted in the stone of Oriental and Roman galleries and balustrades. In the Middle Ages, they grew in the gardens of castles and monasteries, from where they were transferred to the gardens of the townspeople. Arabs are still ancient times planted wild iris with white flowers on the graves. And in Ancient Egypt he was bred in XVI-XV centuries BC, and he was there a symbol of eloquence. In Arabia, on the contrary, they were a symbol of silence and sadness.
Iris has many names: Iris, killer whale, cockerel, pevnik (pikulnik), piskulnik, killer whale, scilla, pigtails, carp, iris, cake, chikan, cockerels, bells, chistyak, wolf cucumber, hare cucumbers, bear cucumbers, pikulnik, pevnik , magpie flowers, chemennik. Among all the names, the most common is the gentle "kasatik", that is, dear, beloved, desired.
In total, in the genus of the Kasatikovye family, or Iris ( Iridaceae) has about 800 species with the richest variety shapes and shades.
The flower "iris" got its name from the hands of the famous healer Hippocrates, who named the plant in honor of the ancient Greek goddess Irida, who proclaims to people the will of the Olympic gods. The goddess Iris descended on the rainbow to the ground, so the word "Iris" in Greek means rainbow. Carl Linnaeus, who proposed single system scientific names of plants, retained its ancient name for the iris.
But Florence was called Florence by the Romans only because around this Etruscan settlement at one time irises grew in abundance, and literal translation from Latin to Russian "Florence" - means "blooming". Since then, the Florentine iris has adorned the city coat of arms of Florence.
This type of iris is also famous for the fact that for a long time people learned to extract fragrant essential oil with the aroma of violets from its rhizome. That is why the rhizome of this iris is called violet root. This natural fragrance was used in royal dressing rooms as early as the 15th century. From 1 kg of rhizomes, an average of 7 g of essential oil is obtained, which is used in perfumery. Fragrances are also extracted from flowers.
In Japan, iris protected houses from harmful influences. In any Japanese family with sons, on the traditional Boys' Day (the fifth day of the fifth moon), iris and orange flowers are prepared on this day magical talisman("May pearls"), as in Japanese the same hieroglyphs denote the names of the iris and the words "warrior spirit". "May pearls", according to legend, should instill courage in the soul of a young man: even the leaves of the plant are very similar to swords.
Among Christians, the iris symbolizes purity, protection, but has also become a symbol of sorrow and pain.
In Japanese, "iris" and "warrior spirit" are denoted by the same hieroglyph. On May 5, on the day of the boys, all the people perform hanami - a ritual admiration of flowers in iris gardens, where they grow immersed in water and on this day images of irises appear on all household items. On the traditional holiday of boys, a magical talisman is prepared from iris flowers, which should instill courage in the soul of a young man. Iris leaves are like swords, and the Japanese are deeply convinced that they should awaken strength, courage and courage in the future man. Once upon a time, on the day of hanami, the Japanese prepared a drink called May pearls from flowers of iris and orange. Those who used it were healed of many diseases.
As a religious symbol, the iris first appears in the paintings of the early Flemish masters, and in the images of the Virgin Mary, it is present both together with the lily and instead of it. This symbolic meaning is due to the fact that the name "iris" means "lily with a sword", which is seen as an allusion to Mary's sorrow for Christ.
Among Christians, iris symbolizes purity, protection, but also became a symbol of sorrow and pain, the reason for which was its sharp wedge-shaped leaves, which seemed to personify the suffering and sadness of the heart of the Mother of God from the suffering of Christ. Especially often as such a symbol in the images of the Virgin there is a blue iris. The iris can also symbolize the virgin birth.
In Russia, the word "Iris" appeared as a botanical name for plants in the second half of the 19th century, and before that period they used popular name"Kasatik", the inhabitants of Ukraine called irises "Cockerel". In Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia, the iris is called Perunika - in honor of Slavic god Perun.
At Slavic peoples rainbow gamut of colors and shades and bizarre forms of iris inflorescences were widely used. They could be seen in folk crafts, in the textile industry, as well as in everyday life decoration: painting dwellings, utensils, clothes (in the ornament of shirts, sundresses, towels, shawls and half-shawls).
Iris Legends
A miracle flower bloomed on one edge. Forest animals and birds began to argue over who it belongs to. They argued for four days, and the dispute resolved itself. The iris seeds ripened, and the wind carried them in different directions.
According to legend, the first iris blossomed several million years ago and was so beautiful that not only animals, birds and insects came to admire it, but also water and wind, which then spread the ripened seeds all over the earth. And when the seeds sprouted and blossomed, the iris became one of man's favorite plants. From a distance, irises seem like small beacons showing the way to sailors.
And here is another legend about irises. Once a rainbow, before disappearing, crumbled into pieces. Wonderful fragments of the rainbow fell to the ground and charming flowers sprouted. The rainbow crumbled into small fragments - that's where the irises bloomed. They sprouted, according to the Pomeranian legend, from the tears of a fisherwoman, who often mourned the separation from her husband.
Another legend tells. When the titan Prometheus stole heavenly fire on Olympus and gave it to people, a rainbow flared up on earth with a marvelous seven-color rainbow - so great was the joy of all life in the world. Already the sunset has faded, and the day has faded, and the sun has gone, and the rainbow still shone over the world, giving people hope. She did not go out until dawn. And when in the morning the sun returned to its place again, where the magic rainbow burned and shimmered with colors, irises bloomed ...
Iris is a perennial unpretentious, hardy and undemanding flower in care. You can almost plant it all year round. Landings take root well both in autumn and in spring. Florists prefer to have several varieties on their site with different terms flowering in order to be able to admire the beauty of the majestic flower for as long as possible. By 2018, breeders brought to the attention of flower growers about 700 species of this plant, which differ not only in the flowering period, but also in shape and shades. All of them have certain features in agricultural technology and need some care.
General about irises
Iris is a flower whose name is associated with legends and legends. In translation, its name can mean "rainbow", but big role the correctness of the interpretation is played by the language from which the translation is made. It is said that Hippocrates named the plant in honor of the rainbow goddess Irida. According to ancient legend When Prometheus brought fire to people, nature began to rejoice, and a bright rainbow flashed in the sky. She flaunted for a whole day, but with the onset of morning, when darkness receded, the people noticed that the earth was covered unusually beautiful flowers that look like a rainbow. This is how Iris appeared on Earth. The value of this flower is now difficult to overestimate, especially since it continues to symbolize the most beautiful natural phenomenon.
Florence owes its name to irises. It was named so precisely because the fields around were completely dotted with iridescent flowers. Iris cultivation has been practiced for over 2000 years. They are used not only as an ornamental plant for decorating flower beds and gardens, but also as a raw material for the production of essences and perfumes.
Iris is a very useful plant, and not only because of its decorative qualities. Thanks to the rich chemical composition, it has found application in cosmetology, perfumery and even medicine. IN different parts plants have been found
- flavonoids;
- essential oil;
- ascorbic acid;
- sugar;
- carotenoids;
- fixed oils;
- tannins;
- vitamin C.
Interesting. Toffee is not only beautiful, but also medicinal flower. Based on it, they make eye drops, use the plant as an astringent, make an infusion for colds and severe coughs.
plant description
Iris flowers are rhizomatous plants. Filamentous roots are located directly on the rhizomes. They have 1 or several annual peduncles, as well as a flat and thin leaf with a noticeable wax coating. At the base, green leaves are collected in fan-shaped bunches, the stem is almost not leafy.
Schematic representation of the iris
What does an iris look like? It has single flowers, sometimes collected from small inflorescences. Often their delicate aroma is not very pronounced, but exceptions occur, and the fragrance of this plant fills the entire garden. Flowers have a different bizarre shape and rich colors. Flowering occurs in May-July, 2-3 flowers can bloom at the same time. The duration of flowering is 1-5 days. After its completion, fruits begin to form in the form of a three-cell box.
Dwarf irises in the garden
In addition to the cockerels themselves, in nature there are flowers that are very similar to irises in appearance, but have different botanical descriptions. These include:
- Alstroemeria;
- Kasatik water;
- Iridodictum;
- Cuckoo's tears, etc.
All of them have different characteristics and growing conditions, external similarities with irises do not mean that they represent the same family.
Characteristics of crop varieties
From the point of view of botany, all species are divided into bearded and non-bearded. The main criterion for difference is the presence or absence of hairs on the petals. It is easy to guess that those flowers are called bearded, the petals of which are covered with hairs. High varieties of this species are usually called Germanic. The most popular are the following:
A larger species assortment is presented in non-bearded irises, including swamp, Siberian, Japanese and other types. The Siberian variety has a rich colors, but for all their beauty and majestic appearance, the flowers are completely devoid of fragrance. Japanese look differs mainly in blue shades of color and a complete absence of smell. For cultivation in central Russia, the following varieties are most suitable:
Connoisseurs of elegance will love the iris of the Spuria type. It can be grown in harsh climates. The plant endures not only winter colds, but also summer drought and looks very similar to the bulbous species of Xifium irises, but the flowers of Spuria are much larger. The following varieties have the greatest decorative qualities:
There is a special variety of irises adapted to grow in moist soil. The color of their flowers is mostly yellow. The most popular representatives of this species are:
The presented range of varieties is constantly updated with new specimens with improved characteristics, so every connoisseur has the opportunity to find an iris to suit his individual taste and decorate a flower bed or country garden with it.
Agricultural technology
Toffees are amazing flowers with rich species diversity. It is noteworthy that its frost resistance depends on the plant variety. The Japanese variety is suitable for growing only in warm climates. If there is a desire to cultivate it in northern latitudes, then to ensure the normal functioning of the flower, you will have to plant it in a pot and place it in a room. To the climate middle lane Bearded irises are most adapted to Russia, Siberian varieties can boast of very good cold resistance. open ground suitable for their wintering even in harsh climatic conditions.
Important! Arid steppe with strong winds and open area poorly suited for the cultivation of this plant.
Plant iris (or iris) preferably in a moist and fertile area with good drainage. If there is excessive moisture in the soil, then a groove should be dug to drain excess water. When processing heavy land and preparing it for planting flowers, it is necessary to fill the flower bed with garden soil, sand and organic fertilizers. At the same time, for each square meter 5 liters of garden soil and fertilizer should be applied. Soil neutralization is best done with bone meal.
Proper planting of iris
The iris flower, which is also called the cockerel, should be propagated by dividing the roots or parts of the rhizome, on which the buds must be present. This operation should be performed after the plant has sprouted in one place for at least 4 years. The best period for the reproduction of flowers is the end of summer or early autumn.
Attention! If you do not divide the rhizome 4 years after planting, then the flower will stop blooming, because flower buds will no longer form on its rhizomes.
Irises can also be propagated by seeds, but this technology has a lot of features, it is not suitable for all varieties. In most cases, it is used in breeding work.
Iris seeds
Landing
After the annual links of the roots of irises have been divided into separate pieces with buds, they are placed in a warm and dry room for a couple of days. This is necessary in order to form a protective wound tissue on the cuts. As additional measure protection slices can be sprinkled with crushed coal.
Rooting roots with buds should be in boxes in winter, they are placed indoors. Irises dug out from autumn until this moment are stored in a cool dark place. In spring, plants can be planted in prepared flower beds. In this case, the spine is cut so that its length is about 9 cm.
Proper planting of irises
At move
Caring for irises does not cause many difficulties and troubles for the grower, however, without these measures, the plant will not be able to develop normally and fully, as well as delight the owner with rapid and bright flowering. First of all, it is necessary to feed with mineral fertilizers containing potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen.
It is necessary to make preparations in equal parts for 3 times. The first time the flowers are fertilized as soon as the first sprouts hatch above the ground, then a month later, the third time - after flowering is completed.
Attention! Iris roots are on the surface, therefore, in order to avoid burns, top dressing is applied exclusively in liquid form.
Growing irises
Growing irises is not difficult even for inexperienced beginners. The flower takes root perfectly and is able to grow in areas with neutral or weak soil acidity. The ideal option would be a pH of 6.8. If the acidity turns out to be increased, then the irises will actively grow and increase the green mass, but the host will not see flowering.
The soil for planting irises is deoxidized using wood ash, chalk or dolomite flour. To improve the structure of the soil, river sand and peat are added. Immediately before planting flowers, a flower bed is dug up on a spade bayonet and the roots are carefully selected. weeds. Do not apply fresh manure as a fertilizer, because this can provoke putrefactive processes of the roots.
Planting irises
Planting roots of irises should not be very deep. They perfectly tolerate hot and dry weather, however, with regular watering, the flower blooms large and beautiful. In order to increase the decorative property of the plant, it is recommended to plant it in partial shade, for example, under a tree. The exception is the bearded iris, which loves the sun, does not tolerate drafts and stagnant water. Therefore, it is better for him to choose a place on a hill, to provide good drainage. Siberian and swamp varieties, on the contrary, prefer areas with high humidity. Stock nutrients absolutely all varieties are needed in the ground, therefore, before planting irises, the beds must be well seasoned, the soil should be disinfected with a fungicide.
Interesting fact. Weeds can be quickly and effectively eliminated if treated with a herbicide.
Can irises cross pollinate?
Theoretically, cross-pollination of irises is quite possible, but in practice it is almost impossible to meet such cases. The fact is that pollen-carrying insects are responsible for cross-pollination of these flowers. The results can be seen only after sowing the seeds and growing a new plant from them. As you know, irises do not reproduce by self-sowing, therefore specimens with new colors cannot appear on their own. Nearby, you can plant completely different varieties of these rainbow flowers and not be afraid that over time they will pollinate.
irises different varieties in the garden
How long do irises last in a vase
On the beds, irises look gorgeous, but it's hard to resist the temptation to decorate your home with them. Only here without compliance certain rules these beauties can lose their luxurious look on the first day. For a flower miracle to stand in a vase for at least a few days, it will need good care. It is necessary to cut irises late in the evening or early in the morning, when they have accumulated largest stock nutrients. In addition, the buds and stems contain vital moisture, which does not evaporate as quickly as during the daytime. During the day, cutting is carried out only in cloudy weather.
Irises in a vase
Irises cut in the rain are not suitable for transportation. The fact is that moisture has accumulated on their leaves, provoking self-heating processes, as a result of which the flowers darken, quickly deteriorate and are no longer of decorative value. To keep them as long as possible, it is necessary to select only the most brightly colored buds. They try to make the cut as close to the root as possible. Before lowering the stem into a vase, it must be cut obliquely.
The water temperature for irises in a vase should be slightly higher than room temperature. It is advisable for these purposes to cool the boiled liquid and add a little sugar there. A piece of copper wire or charcoal Helps prevent rotting of flowers in a vase. The vessel is placed away from batteries, heaters and air conditioners.
Note! Cut irises should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Under such conditions, they can be stored for about 10 days.
Blooming or fading buds must be periodically removed, in return for them new ones will bloom. The water in the vase must be replaced with fresh water prepared using the same technology as the first time.
Irises in the garden
Irises are able to decorate a chic home flower garden. The variety of varieties and colors makes it possible to choose a flower according to your tastes and preferences. different period flowering allows you to create compositions in the garden that will please the eye for a long period of time. Iris is considered one of the most unpretentious, beautiful perennial flowers, radiating a bewitching floral fragrance, therefore it is a real find for inexperienced beginners who want to decorate the site and not know disappointment. However, before you go to buy planting material, you need to thoroughly study the theoretical material and get acquainted with the information about which varieties are suitable for growing in a particular area, and what needs to be changed in the flower bed so that the plant feels as comfortable as possible there.
Iris flowers have been known to man since ancient times. On the island of Crete, among the paintings of the Palace of Knossos, a fresco depicts a priest surrounded by blooming irises. This fresco is about 4000 years old. Iris flowers are imprinted in the stone of Oriental and Roman galleries and balustrades. In the Middle Ages, they grew in the gardens of castles and monasteries, from where they were transferred to the gardens of the townspeople. Arabs in ancient times planted wild iris with white flowers on the graves. And in ancient Egypt, it was bred back in the 16th-15th centuries BC, and it was a symbol of eloquence there. In Arabia, on the contrary, they were a symbol of silence and sadness.
Iris has many names: Iris, killer whale, cockerel, pevnik (pikulnik), piskulnik, killer whale, scilla, pigtails, carp, iris, cake, chikan, cockerels, bells, chistyak, wolf cucumber, hare cucumbers, bear cucumbers, pikulnik, pevnik , magpie flowers, chemennik. Among all the names, the most common is the gentle "kasatik", that is, dear, beloved, desired.
In total, in the genus of the Kasatikovye family, or Iris ( Iridaceae) has about 800 species with a rich variety of shapes and shades.
The flower "iris" got its name from the hands of the famous healer Hippocrates, who named the plant in honor of the ancient Greek goddess Irida, who proclaims to people the will of the Olympic gods. The goddess Iris descended on the rainbow to the ground, so the word "Iris" in Greek means rainbow. Carl Linnaeus, who proposed a unified system of scientific names for plants, retained his ancient name for the iris.
But Florence was called Florence by the Romans only because irises grew in abundance around this Etruscan settlement at one time, and the literal translation from Latin into Russian “Florence” means “blooming”. Since then, the Florentine iris has adorned the city coat of arms of Florence.
This type of iris is also famous for the fact that for a long time people learned to extract fragrant essential oil with the aroma of violets from its rhizome. That is why the rhizome of this iris is called violet root. This natural fragrance was used in royal dressing rooms as early as the 15th century. From 1 kg of rhizomes, an average of 7 g of essential oil is obtained, which is used in perfumery. Fragrances are also extracted from flowers.
In Japan, iris protected houses from harmful influences. In any Japanese family with sons, on the traditional Boys' Day (the fifth day of the fifth moon), a magical talisman ("May pearls") is prepared from the flowers of iris and orange on this day, since in Japanese the names of iris and words "warrior spirit". "May pearls", according to legend, should instill courage in the soul of a young man: even the leaves of the plant are very similar to swords.
Among Christians, the iris symbolizes purity, protection, but has also become a symbol of sorrow and pain.
In Japanese, "iris" and "warrior spirit" are denoted by the same hieroglyph. On May 5, on the day of the boys, all the people perform hanami - a ritual admiration of flowers in iris gardens, where they grow immersed in water and on this day images of irises appear on all household items. On the traditional holiday of boys, a magical talisman is prepared from iris flowers, which should instill courage in the soul of a young man. Iris leaves are like swords, and the Japanese are deeply convinced that they should awaken strength, courage and courage in the future man. Once upon a time, on the day of hanami, the Japanese prepared a drink called May pearls from flowers of iris and orange. Those who used it were healed of many diseases.
As a religious symbol, the iris first appears in the paintings of the early Flemish masters, and in the images of the Virgin Mary, it is present both together with the lily and instead of it. This symbolic meaning is due to the fact that the name "iris" means "lily with a sword", which is seen as an allusion to Mary's sorrow for Christ.
Among Christians, iris symbolizes purity, protection, but also became a symbol of sorrow and pain, the reason for which was its sharp wedge-shaped leaves, which seemed to personify the suffering and sadness of the heart of the Mother of God from the suffering of Christ. Especially often as such a symbol in the images of the Virgin there is a blue iris. The iris can also symbolize the virgin birth.
In Russia, the word "Iris" appeared as a botanical name for plants in the second half of the 19th century, and before that period they used the popular name "Kasatik", the inhabitants of Ukraine called irises "Cockerel". In Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia, the iris is called Perunika - in honor of the Slavic god Perun.
The Slavic peoples widely used an iridescent range of colors and shades and bizarre forms of iris inflorescences. They could be seen in folk crafts, in the textile industry, as well as in everyday life decoration: painting dwellings, utensils, clothes (in the ornament of shirts, sundresses, towels, shawls and half-shawls).
Iris Legends
A miracle flower bloomed on one edge. Forest animals and birds began to argue over who it belongs to. They argued for four days, and the dispute resolved itself. The iris seeds ripened, and the wind carried them in different directions.
According to legend, the first iris blossomed several million years ago and was so beautiful that not only animals, birds and insects came to admire it, but also water and wind, which then spread the ripened seeds all over the earth. And when the seeds sprouted and blossomed, the iris became one of man's favorite plants. From a distance, irises seem like small beacons showing the way to sailors.
And here is another legend about irises. Once a rainbow, before disappearing, crumbled into pieces. Wonderful fragments of the rainbow fell to the ground and charming flowers sprouted. The rainbow crumbled into small fragments - that's where the irises bloomed. They sprouted, according to the Pomeranian legend, from the tears of a fisherwoman, who often mourned the separation from her husband.
Another legend tells. When the titan Prometheus stole heavenly fire on Olympus and gave it to people, a rainbow flared up on earth with a marvelous seven-color rainbow - so great was the joy of all life in the world. Already the sunset has faded, and the day has faded, and the sun has gone, and the rainbow still shone over the world, giving people hope. She did not go out until dawn. And when in the morning the sun returned to its place again, where the magic rainbow burned and shimmered with colors, irises bloomed ...
