noun
1. iris of northern Italy having deep blue-purple flowers; similar to but smaller than Iris germanica
• Syn: ↑Iris kochii
• Hypernyms: ↑bearded iris
2. a large iris with purple or white flowers, native to central and southern Europe
• Syn: ↑Iris germanica
• Hypernyms: ↑bearded iris
* * *
nounUsage: usually capitalized G
1. : any of several Old World bearded irises: as
a. : a large purple-flowered to white-flowered iris (Iris germanica) native to central and southern Europe
b. : any of several chiefly European irises (as I. kochii and I. flavescens) usually considered to be closely related to or sometimes varieties of the German iris (I. germanica)
2. : any of numerous tall bearded horticultural irises derived from the wild German irises (especially Iris germanica) by hybridization and selection
Useful english dictionary. 2012.