A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Iris,-idis (s.f.III), abl.sg. iride; or Iris, gen.sg. iris (s.f.III), abl. sg. ire: classically, a plant of the genus Iris, esp. I. pallida and I. florentina; in mythology, Iris is the messenger of the gods and also goddess of the rainbow; a rainbow; a preparation of the fragrant root of the Iris pallida and I. florentina, ‘orris,’ used as a perfume, in medicine, etc. (Glare); also, an iridescent stone; see iridescence, iridescent;

NOTE: iris,-is (s.m.III) [note masculine gender]: the hedgehog; see erinaceus,-i (s.m.II).

- Iridi bulbosa affine Sisyrinchum majus et minus (Desf.), Sisyrinchium majus and minus related to Iris bulbosa.

Iris,-idis L. (s.f.III), abl. sg. Iride; Iridaceae, the genus named in reference to the rainbow (Fernald 1950).

- [Gladiolus iridioides] “stigmata 3, petaloidea, minora, patentia, caerulescentia, bifida ut in Iride (Linn.), the stigmas 3, resembling petals, smaller, spreading, bluish, bifid as in Iris.

- differt vix ab Iride, nisi petalis interioribus patentibus (Linn.) it differs scarcely from Iris, except the inner petals spreading.

Irinum,-i (s.n.II), abl.sg. irino: “extract of iris root” (Glare).