wall iris; roof iris; Iris tectorum
A species of iris traditionally grown on thatched roofs in Japan; also known as fleur-de-lis in some contexts. Botanical name: Iris tectorum.
The wall iris is a flower that has been planted on the roofs of Japanese houses since ancient times.
Purple wall irises are blooming in the corner of the garden.
Standard botanical kanji spelling for this iris species.
Ateji spelling using the numbers 一 (1) and 八 (8); rarely used in practice.
The name いちはつ is said to derive from the plant's early blooming period, literally meaning 'first to bloom' (一初). The kanji 鳶尾 (tobi-iri) is a later assignment based on the shape of the flower resembling a kite's tail.