The iris，genus Iris，is an herbacious perennial of which there are about 170species，including several North American varieties，the most common of which is the Blue Flag．While there are several different colors among the iris，and the act naming the iris as the state flower did not name a particular color，by common acceptance the purple iris is considered the state flower．
The iris family is closely related to the lily and amaryllis（［植］石蒜科孤挺花属植物）families，differing from them in having three stamens（雄蕊）rather than six．The cultivated irises（genus Iris ），freesias（genus Freesia ），and gladioli（genus Gladiolus ）show a wide variety of colors in their large，usually perfumed blossoms；they are mostly hybrids（杂种）of Old World species．The many species of wild iris are most common in temperate and subarctic（亚北极区的）regions of North America，where they are often called flags，or blue flags．
The iris flower belongs to the natural order Iridaceae of the class Monocotyledons（［植］单子叶植物），which is characterized by a petaloid（花瓣状的）six－parted perianth（［植］花被），an inferior ovary（［植物］子房）and only three stamens（the outer series），being thus distinguished from the Amaryllidaceae family，which has six stamens．They are handsome showy－flowered plants，the Greek name having been applied on account of the hues of the flowers．True irises（the genus Iris，containing more than 200species）grow from thick underground stems called rhizomes（［植］根茎，根状茎）．Admired for their beauty since very ancient times，irises were nevertheless（然而，不过）cultivated by the ancient Egyptians primarily for these rhizomes，which were used as a source of medicine and perfumes，a practice brought to Europe by the Greeks and continued until the early part of the 20th century．
Rhizomatous（rhizomatous地下茎的）irises are divided into three groups －the bearded，the crested，and the beardless（无须的）．The designation“bearded”derives from the fuzzy（有绒毛的）caterpillar－like appendage that runs down the center of each of the flower’s three drooping outer segments，or falls；the three inner，more upright，segments are called standards
Height x width：4″－48″depending on species
Growth rate：moderate to fast
Foliage：narrow，generally linear to lanceolate（矛尖形的，披针状的），sheathing（覆盖物，罩子）base，parallel－veined，mostly basal in fans or from bulb center
Flowers：generally 1－6on stalks above leaves；3outer flower segments（falls）often drooping downwards（reflexed），sometimes with a central“beard”of colored hairs or ridge，often with a patch of different color（signal）；3inner flower segments（standards）often upright and narrow in some species；standards and falls may be different colors，most colors available
Hardiness zones：3to 6－8to 9
State Flag州旗
在此旗上的3颗星星代表田纳西州3块不同的地形。东部是山脉，中间是高原，而西部则是低地。这些地域连在一起组成一个完整的圆。深红色的旗帜上，3颗星星的背景色为蓝色。在末端还有一个竖直的蓝色长条，是为了区分颜色而用的，以便它看起来让人有眼前一亮的感觉。本州在1905年4月7日使用该州旗。
The state flag was designed by LeRoy Reeves of the Third Regiment，Tennessee Infantry（步兵），who made the following explanation of his design：
Flag of Tennessee Artist’s Original Sketch TENNESSEE BLUE BOOK 494The three stars are of pure white，representing the three grand divisions of the state．They are bound together by the endless circle of the blue field，the symbol being three bound together in one on indissoluble（不能分解的）trinity．The large field is crimson（深红色的）．The final blue bar relieves the sameness（一致）of the crimson field and prevents the flag from showing too much crimson when hanging limp．The white edgings（边饰）contrast more strongly the other colors．
State Song州歌
Tennessee
I do not know of another state
Where I had rather be
Than this great state I’m living in
And that is Tennessee．
I love the stars dearly（深深地）
And there are surely three
That show the Grand Division
Of my home－land，Tennessee．
Where could you find a meadow
With grass so vividly（生动地，鲜明地）green？
Where could you find the mountains
With such majestic（宏伟的，庄严的）scene？
You will never find so bright a moon
To shine down from above
You will also see the robin
The wren（［动］鹪鹩），and the turtle dove（斑鸠）．
And don’t forget the rivers
Where visitors long to stay．
And many have voice in parting，
I’m sure glad I passed this way．
You will see the cattle grazing
Beside a cotton field；
And there’s the Grand Ole Opry
And a feeling it’s all God’s will．
I have lived here all my life
It’s where I’m going to be
Although I’ve traveled quite a bit，
I’ll still take Tennessee！
Oh，I sure love the state I’m in：
The great state of Tennessee！
Facts and Trivia相关资料
1．The city of Kingston served as Tennessee’s state capital for one day（September 21，1807）as a result of treaties negotiated with the Cherokee Indians．The two－hour legislative session passed two resolutions and adjourned（延期，休会）back to Knoxville（诺克斯维尔）．
2．Andrew Johnson held every elective office at the local，state，and federal level，including President of the United States．He was elected alderman（市议员），mayor，state representative，and state senator from Greeneville．He served as governor and military governor of Tennessee and United States congressman，senator，and vice president，becoming President of the United States following the assassination（暗杀）of Abraham Lincoln．
3．Iroquois，bred at Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation，was the first American winner of the English Derby in 1881．Such modern thoroughbreds as Secretariat trace their bloodlines to Iroquois．
4．Actress－singer Polly Bergen，from Knoxville，is the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors of the Singer Sewing Machine Company．
5．Tennessee won its nickname as The Volunteer State during the War of 1812when volunteer soldiers from Tennessee displayed marked valor（英勇，勇猛）in the Battle of New Orleans．
6．The Copper Basin is so different from the surrounding area it has been seen and is recognizable by American astronauts（太空人，宇航员）．The stark landscape was caused by 19th－century mining practices．
7．There were more National Guard soldiers deployed from the state for the Gulf War effort than any other state．
8．There are more horses per capita［（牲畜的）总（头）数］in Shelby County than any other county in the United States．
