[2][3][4] It includes a number of economically important cultivated plants, such as species of Freesia, Gladiolus, and Crocus, as well as the crop saffron.

Its name derives from the Greek goddess, Iris, who carried messages from Olympus to earth along a rainbow, whose colors were seen by Linnaeus in the multi-hued petals of many of the species.

It contains many genera, including Afrocrocus, Babiana, Chasmanthe, Crocosmia, Crocus, Cyanixia, Devia, Dierama, Duthiastrum, Freesia, Geissorhiza, Gladiolus, Hesperantha, Ixia, Lapeirousia, Melasphaerula, Micranthus, Pillansia, Romulea, Sparaxis, Savannosiphon, Syringodea, Thereianthus, Tritonia, Tritoniopsis, Xenoscapa and Watsonia.

[5] It is now distinguished as being evergreen shrubs with monocot-type secondary thickening, shield shaped seeds, and paired rhipidia with only one to two flowers in each cluster.

[5] Subfamily Iridoideae has the widest geographic distribution and is divided into four tribes and one sister genus: Irideae, Sisyrichieae, Trimezieae, Tigridieae,and Diplarreneae.

[7] Excluding the Irideae, the evolution of oil-producing trichomes, called elaiophores, have been gained and lost in each of the tribes attracting oil bees.

[7][5] Sisyrichieae is noted for having long style branches that may interlace with stamens, partially fused filaments, and the lack of oxaloacetate crystals in leaves.

[7][5][14][15][8] Several species with ornamented or iris-like flowers also possess a specialized method of forcing pollen onto heavy pollinators with hinged petals.

[17] Tigridieae Trimezieae Sisyrinchieae Irideae Diplarreneae Ixieae Freesieae Gladioleae Watsonieae Tritoniopsideae Nivenioideae Aristeoideae Geosiridoideae Patersonioideae Isophysidoideae Members of Iridaceae occur in a great variety of habitats.

[5] A similar process occurred for the tribe Tigridieae in Iridoideae following long-distance dispersal from South to North America, resulting in high levels of endemism.

[21] Pollinators include various species of solitary bees, as well as sunbirds, long-proboscid flies (such as Moegistorhynchus longirostris),[22] butterflies, and night moths.

[4] Species of Ferraria produce putrid smells, floral cups, and dark mottled perianth in order to attract Diptera.

[20][7] Some members of the tribe Irideae have flowers functioning as meranthia, or developing as three separate zygomorphic units that pollinators visit individually.