June’s Calendar Flower - Wild Iris

Wild Iris, Iris missouriensis

Iris missouriensis, is commonly known as Western Blue Flag and is found from Canada through California, west of the Missiouri River. Favoring moist soil, this wild iris can be found both in mountain meadows at high altitudes, as well as along the coastlines. George ‘s notes say that this flower portrait was taken in July of 1981 in Lee Vining, CA.

Interesting tid-bit: The Iris genus is named for the Greek Goddess of the rainbow!

Medical uses of the Wild Iris by Indigenous People have included using the roots to treat toothache, and creating a poultice on newborns to increase their strength. Rope and cords were also fashioned out of the stems of the Wild Iris.

This is Blue Flag Iris, Iris virginica shrevei, cousin to the Western Blue Flag Iris. I took this photo in the Morton Arboretum where I found it by a stream bed in a prairie to woodland transition area.

The Goddess of the Rainbow is an apt name for this beauty!