Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow. This refers to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species. The scientific name, "iris" is also very widely used as a common name for all "Iris" species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. It is a member of the Iridaceae family It is a popular garden flower.