Dagger Flower, Roast beef plant
Iris foetidissima

Family: Iridaceae

What it is like

A perennial plant. It has fleshy stems. It grows 45-60 cm high and 30-60 cm across. The leaves are dark green. They have a distinctive smell when crushed. The leaves are sword shaped and pointed. The flowers are small and purplish-brown. They are 5-7 cm long. They are on a flattened stem with 2-3 short branches. The fruit are pods which split open to reveal orange seeds.

There are about 300 Iris species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It grows in woods and hedgerows. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Australia, Azores, Europe, France, Mediterranean, North Africa, Slovenia, Tasmania, Tunisia

How it is used for food

The starch of the root is a famine food used for extending bread flour, after removal of the bitter element. CAUTION:

Edible parts

Caution. root - starch

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gladdon, Gladwyn, Stinking iris

Synonyms

Chamaeiris foetida Medik.; Iris foetida Thunb.; Spathula foetidissima (L.) Fourr.; Xiphion foetidissimum (L.) Parl.; Xyridion foetidissimum (L.) Klatt;