noun
Usage: 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