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Iridaceae Family - "Blue Flag iris, Fleur-de-lis"
Iris is from the Greek word for "rainbow" and shrevei is in honor of Ralph Shreve.
Commonly found in the marshy areas of the Tallgrass prairie, I. shrevei blooms from May to June and can grow to 4 feet under ideal conditions, but 2 - 3 feet is the norm. The flowers of this species are only found in the wild as blue to blue-violet; other colored irises growing in what appears to be wild conditions are garden escapes.
Native Americans used Blue Flag Iris to treat earaches, sore eyes, respiratory problems and liver ailments. Both Native Americans and early settlers pounded the boiled roots into a pulp and applied it as a dressing to relieve pain and swelling from sores and bruises. Early settlers also used I. shrevei occasionally to induce vomiting in order to "cleanse the intestines".
