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| ## Purdy's iris {#purdys-iris .Title-Header}                          |
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| *Iris purdyi* Eastw.                                                  |
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| Plant Symbol = IRPU                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

### ![](media/image2.png){width="1.5625in" height="3.125in"}

###### Uses

[*Warning***: Fresh iris roots may be toxic.**]{.underline}

*Ethnobotanic*: Iris makes some of the finest cordage. The fibers are
particularly strong, flexible, and fine like silk. Only two fibers can
be taken from each iris leaf margin. Huge bunches of leaves were
harvested in the fall and stored until needed. Iris cordage was used for
fishing nets, string, rope, snares, hairnets, and regalia.

The men knotted the fishing nets from iris fibers. Animals were captured
with iris rope. A deer rope is nearly 20 feet long with a lasso at one
end, and about half an inch in diameter. A loop was set over a deer
trail to catch the head or antlers. Within the loop positioned over a
trail a delicate network of the same material was spread to draw in the
loop. One Indian stated that \"it takes nearly six weeks to make a rope
twelve feet long.\"

In spite of the tremendous labor of preparing this material, the iris
fiber was one of the most generally employed in northwestern California.
The threads and cords of this fiber were used to make fishing nets,
camping bags and snares for catching game. Since iris is fine and can be
bent at sharp angles, it makes an excellent starting knot in coiled
baskets.

The Pomo placed acorn meal in a shallow pit and covered the meal with
iris leaves before pouring water over the meal to leach out tannic acid.
The Monache and the Southern Yokuts in California make flour from iris
seed.

A poultice of the raw rhizome is especially effective against staph
sores. Used externally, iris is successfully used for infected wounds,
ulcers, fistulas, and to take away freckles. Only the dry root should be
used internally. Iris is active as a cathartic; has a stimulating effect
on the production of both pancreatic enzymes and bile; is a strong
diuretic; and will stimulate both saliva and sweat. This is a useful
drug plant, but in general, should be used with care and preferably in
combinations where less energetic plants form the bulk of a medicinal
formula.

# 

*Landscaping & Wildlife*: The blossoms lend themselves to landscaping,
where they require minimal maintenance. Native irises are free
flowering, most are long lived, require very little attention, and
provide an abundance of seeds. Iris flowers attract insects and birds.
Irises provide both nectar and insects to hummingbirds.

###### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

# Description

# *General*: Iris Family (Iridaceae). Purdy's iris has leaves that are shiny green on top, gray-green and glaucous underneath. Stems and leaves are stained a brilliant mahogany red or cerise pink. There are two flowers on the tall (12\") stem. It has pale cream-yellow flowers with prominent, brownish purple veins or whitish with lavender tinges. Flowers bloom in May and June. The rhizomes are 4-6 mm in diameter.

###### Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site. Purdy's iris is common is open to shady
places, in redwood, north coastal coniferous and mixed evergreen forest
communities, and grows at elevations below 1200m. It occurs in the north
coast of California in the Klamath Ranges and outer North Coast Ranges,
from Sonoma to Humboldt and Trinity Counties.

###### Establishment

This iris does not form clumps, must be grown from seed, and is a sparse
grower. The native irises are excellent in shade situations, even dense
shade of walls and fences (Schmidt 1980). They will tolerate sun for
most of the day in mild areas, and should have afternoon shade and ample
water in the interior regions. These plants are intolerant of frequent
summer water; they should not be planted near lawns or other
moisture-loving plants. These plants require excellent drainage;
therefore, compacted or other water-holding soils may need to be
modified. Fertilization increases biomass and seed production.

Irises start growing with the first cool weather and rains in fall,
reaching the height of their growth in spring and early summer.

*Propagation by Plant Division*: Purdy's iris is not densely
rhizomatous, and it is recommended that the plants be started from seed.
However, this iris is still clonal, radiating in growth outward from the
center of the plant. This iris can be propagated from plant division, in
fall or winter after the first new roots are established but before the
flowers form.

Native irises in the wild tend to produce only a small, dry rhizome with
stringy roots which is difficult to dig. Vigorous garden or greenhouse
plants produce firm, white, growing roots especially in winter and
spring growing seasons, and clumps are easily divided at those time.
Remove a new fan with fleshy roots set in a prepared site, water it, and
provide shade for a few days if the plant is placed in full sun.
Frequent division appears to keep the plants vigorous, as well as being
the best method of increasing the supply of superior forms.

### 

*Propagation by Seed*: Iris seed is easily collected from the large
capsules. The seedpods from Purdy's iris are sometimes right on the
ground, almost like a peanut. The capsules turn from green to brown and
open at the top when they are ripe. You have to watch them carefully,
because they split very rapidly and two days later the seed is
dispersed. Collect capsules carefully to avoid spilling seeds; each
capsule has from 20 to 80 seeds. Store seeds in paper envelopes at room
temperature until they are planted. Seeds will keep up to 10 years at
room temperature.

Plant seeds in 6-inch pots, using a combination of leaf mold and peat
moss. Cover seeds with 1/2 inch of same material. Any good potting soil
that\'s acidic is good for seed germination.

After planting, over-winter the pots outdoors in November or December.
They will come up in 2-3 months, depending on the weather. Germination
increases the second year, because there\'s always a percentage of hard
seeds that won\'t germinate the first year. Part of the seed won't
germinate until the second year, to increase the probability for good
weather conditions and optimize germination success.

Plant the seedlings in May, when the young plants are usually 3 to 6
inches tall or even taller. Plants are likely to require watering the
first year while roots are being established. Plant from 6 inches to
one-foot spacing. If a natural look is desired, scatter and clump the
plantings. Plants will begin to bloom by their second year if growth has
been continuous.

Direct seeding is possible in places that can be left undisturbed, as
among shrubs, or among low perennials where the seedlings can be
sheltered. If planting seeds in the ground, autumn is the best time for
seeding; germination begins in two or three months and often continues
beyond that time. A friable seed mixture of sand, loam, and either peat
or screened leaf mold is best, covering the seed with sphagnum moss to
aid in preventing damping-off of seedlings.

###### 

###### Management

In autumn, old leaves should be removed from the center of large clumps,
the foliage cut back, and a mulch applied, especially if the irises are
being naturalized in a semi-dry area. Traditional resource management
included harvesting huge bunches of iris leaves in the fall, and storing
these leaves until needed. The fibers are then harvested from the
leaves. This naturally accomplished the pruning and mulching that modern
horticulturists practice to maintain iris beds.

The PCI borer (*Amphipoea americana* var. *pacifica* ) and iris borer
are serious pests of iris. The iris borer stays in the rhizome through
the winter, then metamorphose, coming out sometime in the spring as a
nocturnal moth. Controlling the moth when its flying, to prevent it from
laying its eggs on the iris, would control the borer. At this time, it
is recommended to dig the infected plant out entirely, put it a plastic
bag, and put them in the garbage can to avoid contamination of other
plants.

Milkweed (*Asclepias* species) and dogbane (*Apocynum cannibinum* ) were
traditionally burned by native people in the fall to maintain vigorous
plant production, to stimulate plant growth, to optimize long and
abundant fiber production from leaves and stalks, and to stimulate seed
production. It is probable that iris was burned for the same reasons.

###### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

IRPU is readily available from native plant nurseries and seed companies
within its range. Seeds and plants of selected iris cultivars are
available from many nurseries. It is best to plant species from your
local area, adapted to the specific site conditions where the plants are
to be grown. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service
(formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look
in the phone book under "United States Government." The Natural
Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading
"Department of Agriculture."

###### References

American Iris Society. *SPCNI*. 4333 Oak Hill Road. Oakland, CA 94605.

Archer, W.A. 1957*. Abstract of pharmacological research*. pp 108-131
IN: \"Medicinal Uses of Plants\" by Indian Tribes of Nevada, by Percy
Train, James R. Henrichs and W. Andrew Archer. Contributions Toward a
Flora of Nevada, No. 45. Beltsville, MD: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Plant Industry Station. \[Facsimile Reprint: Quarterman Publications,
Lawrence, MA, 1978.\]

Balls, E.K. 1962*. Early uses of California plants*. University of
California Press. 103 pp.

Cohen, V.A. 1967. *Guide to the Pacific Coast irises*. A monograph with
drawings and photos. British Iris Society. This monograph has been
reprinted by the Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris (SPCNI). 4333 Oak
Hill Road, Oakland, California.

Cooke, S.S. 1997. *A field guide to the common wetland plants of Western
Washington and Northwestern Oregon*. Seattle Audubon Society and
Washington Native Plant Society. 414 pp.

Fowler, C.S. 1992. *In the shadow of Fox Peak. An ethnography of the
cattail-eater Northern Paiute people of Stillwater Marsh*. Cultural
Resource Series Number 5. U.S. Department of the Interior. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Region 1. Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. 264 pp.

Gunther, E. 1945 rev. 1973. *Ethnobotany of western Washington*.
University of Washington Publications in Anthropology, 10(1). University
of Washington Press, Seattle, Washington.

Hickman, J.C. 1993. *The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California*.
University of California Press. 1399 pp.

Hunn, E. & J. Selam and family 1990. *Nch\'i-Wana \"The Big River.\"*
Mid-Columbia Indians and Their Land. University of Washington Press,
Seattle and London. 378 pp.

Hutchens, A.R. 1991. *Indian herbalogy of North America*. Shambhala,
Boston & London. 382 pp.

Lawyer, A. & L. Lawyer. January/February 1996. *Growing and hybridizing
your own iris*. Growing Native. The Newsletter of the Growing Native
Research Institute. 15 pp.

Lenz, L.W.A. 1958. *Revision of the Pacific Coast irises.* A monograph
with drawings and site maps for both species and naturally occurring
hybrids. Originally published in RSABG\'s publication. Also in 1958, it
has been reprinted by the Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris (SPCNI).
4333 Oak Hill Road. Oakland CA 94605.

Martin, A.C., H.S. Zim, & A.L. Nelson. 1951. *American wildlife and
plants: A guide to wildlife food habits*. Dover Publications, Inc., New
York, New York. 500 pp.

Mason, H.L. 1957. *A flora of the marshes of California*. University of
California. 878 pp.

Moore, M. 1979*.* *Medicinal plants of the mountain west*. Museum of New
Mexico Press. 200 pp.

Moser, C.L. 1993. *Native American basketry of southern California*.
Riverside Museum Press. 155 pp.

Murphy, E.V.A. 1959. *Indian uses of native plants*. Mendocino County
Historical Society. 81 pp.

Schmidt, M.G. 1980*. Growing California native plants*. University of
California Press. 366 pp.

Strike, S.S. 1994. *Ethnobotany of the California Indians*. Koeltz
Scientific Books, USA\\Germany. 210 pp.

USDA, NRCS 1999. *The PLANTS database*. National Plant Data Center,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. \<http://plants.usda.gov\>. Version: 990405.

Warburton, B. date unknown. *The world of irises*. American Iris
Society. 718 West 67th Street. Tulsa, Oklahoma.

###### Prepared By

*Michelle Stevens*

formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

###### Species Coordinator

*M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

c/o Plant Science Department, University of California, Davis,
California

Edited: 05dec00 jsp; 20may03 ahv; 060801 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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