Iridaceae is a family of plants in Order Asparagales, taking its name from the Irises, meaning rainbow, referring to its many colours. There are 66 accepted genera with a total of ca 2244 species worldwide (Christenhusz & Byng 2016 ). It includes a number of other well known cultivated plants, such as the Freesia, the Gladiolus and the Crocus. Members of this family are perennial plants, with a bulb, corm or rhizome. The plants grow erect, and have leaves that are generally grass-like, with a sharp central fold. Some examples of members of this family are the Blue Flag and Yellow Flag.