Gladwyn, Stinking
Stinking Gladwyn is found only locally in England, but is common in
all the southwestern counties, growing in woods and shady places,
on hedgebanks and sloping grounds.
The creeping rhizomes are thick, tufted and fibrous. The leaves
are firm, deep green, sword-shaped, shorter, narrower and less rigid
and of a darker green than those of the Yellow Flag, and are evergreen
in winter. When bruised or crushed, they emit a strong odour, at
a distance not unlike that of hot, roast beef, hence its country
name of 'Roast Beef Plant.' On closer acquaintance, the scent becomes
disagreeable, hence the more usual common name 'Stinking Gladwyn,'
and the Latin specific name.
It flowers from June to August, but sparingly, and the corollas,
of a dull, livid purple colour, rarely bluish or yellowish, are
smaller than those of the other flags and not fragrant at night.
The flowers are followed by triangular seed-vessels, which, when
ripe, open, disclosing beautiful orange-red coloured seeds.
Stinking Gladwyn flourishes in moist and partially-shaded places,
in ordinary garden soil. Seeds scattered in semiwild places soon
make good plants and plants may also be increased by division of
the rhizomes. The brilliant seeds in their gaping capsules make
it an effective garden plant in autumn.
Modern Uses: Antispasmodic, cathartic,
anodyne. Iris foetidissima has been employed for the same
medicinal purposes as the Yellow Flag and is equally violent in
its action. A decoction of the roots acts as a strong purge. It
has also been used as an emmenagogue and for cleansing eruptions.
The dried root, in powder or as an infusion, is good in hysterical
disorders, fainting, nervous complaints and to relieve pains and
cramps.
Taken inwardly and applied outwardly to the affected part, it
is an excellent remedy for scrofula.
The use of this Iris was well known to the Ancients and is referred
to by Theophrastus, in the fourth century before Christ.
Other Names: Gladwin. Spurge Plant. Roast
Beef Plant.
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