Iris. - Synonym. - Blue Flag. The rhizome and roots of Iris versicolor Linne (nat. ord. Irideae).

Habitat

North America, in swampy localities.

Characters

Rhizome of horizontal growth, consisting of joints, 5 to 10 cm. long, cylindrical in the lower half, flattish near the upper extremity, and terminated by a circular scar, annulated from the leaf-sheaths, grayish-brown; roots long, simple, crowded near the broad end; odor slight; taste acrid and nauseous.

Composition

The chief constituents are - (1) An acrid resin. (2) Possibly an alkaloid. (3) Fat. (4) A camphoraceous body.

Dose, 10 to 30 gr.; .60 to 2.00 gm.

Preparations

1. Extractum Iridis. - Extract of Iris. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, 1 to 3 gr.; .06 to .20 gm.

2. Extractum Iridis Fluidum. - Fluid Extract of Iris. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, 10 to 30 m.; .60 to 2.00 c.c.

Iridinum. Iridin. Irisin

(Not official.) - Synonym. - Irisin. The powdered extractive obtained from the root of Iris versicolor.

Characters

A dark-brown, bitter, nauseous powder. Dose, 1 to 5 gr.; .06 to .30 gm.

Action And Therapeutics Of Iris

The extract and fluid extract of iris are infrequently used. Iridin is a cholagogue, and as it rarely gripes, it may be given when it is required to use a cholagogue purgative daily for some time. It may be combined with euonymin, calomel, podophyl-lin and other cholagogue purgatives.