Europe - Iris

According to Greek mythology, a rainbow ("iris" in Greek) would appear when the messenger of the Olympian gods, the goddess Iris, would open communications between heaven and earth. Clovis, after claiming victory over the Visigoths in a place where iris grew in abundance, made it the symbol of the Kingdom of the Franks. Iris flavours liqueurs and other beverages. Its rhizomes were cut into sticks and given to teething infants to chew on. In perfumery, its delicate violet scent stabilises perfumes.

Traditionally, the rhizome of the iris is used for its cleansing and astringent properties.