Iris is a genus of flowering plants with showy flowers. They are found in temperate and tropical regions. A wide range of flower colors is available, including blue, yellow, orange, white, purple, pink and brown. The flowers have six petals, with the inner two usually being larger than the outer ones.
The genus includes over 300 species, many of which are popular garden plants. Irises are also used in traditional medicine and as cut flowers. Some species are known to be toxic to humans and animals if ingested.
Irises are named after the Greek goddess Iris, who was associated with the rainbow. The name “iris” is also used for the colored part of the eye surrounding the pupil (the word “iris” comes from the Latin word for “rainbow”). This usage is due to the fact that many iris flowers have colorful patterns on their petals that resemble a human eye.