Aristea capitata Ker-Gawl.   Iridaceae (Iris Family)   South Africa   Aristea

                                 May Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Fibrous rooted herb, robust sts. to 4.5 ft.; basal lvs. 20-40 in. long, to 5/8 in. wide, rigid, st. lvs. 3-5, erect, to 15 in. long; infl. an elongated much branched panicle, bracts brown, scarious; perianth blue, outer segms. obovate-cuneate, 5/8 in. long; caps nearly rectangular in outline, 5/8 in. long, seeds ca. 1/4 in. long.

Habitat:  Escape from cultivation. 

Name:  Latin, arist, awned or bearded and caput, having a head.  (Jaeger 25,46).

General:  Rare in the study area having been found only once and this in the marshy area near the old salt works.  The plant was growing in a shady area under willows and next to a slow running stream. (my comments).      Iris spp. were used by the Indians for cordage, especially nets. The leaves were used for basketry and the roots for medicine.  (Heizer & Elsasser 246).      Orris Root, Iris florentina, is used as a sachet for its violet-like odor.  The book "Personal Beauty" published by doctors D. Brinton and G. Naphey, in 1870, used Orris Root as the scent in a toothpowder made of powdered chalk, powdered borax, and Myrrh.  In grandmother's day, ladies chewed a bit of the delicate scented Orris Root to sweeten the breath.  (Meyer 204).      The genus Aristea is not listed in Bailey’s Manual of Cultivated Plants, it is however, listed in Bailey’s Hortus Third.  (my comment).

Text Ref:  Bailey, Hortus Third 107.

Photo Ref:  April-May 85 # 13,14.

Identity: by John Johnson.

First Found:  May 1985.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 116.

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit  8/5/05.

                                   May Photo