CXXXVI. IRIDEZ (BAKER). 337 
OrDER CXXXVI. IRIDEÆ. (By J. G. Baker.) 
Flowers hermaphrodite, regular or irregular. Perianth corolline, 
with or without a tube above the ovary ; segments biseriate, all alike or 
those of the inner row different from those of the outer, or the three 
lower from the three upper. Stamens 8, inserted opposite the segments 
of the outer row, divergent or unilateral; filaments free, or more or 
less united ; anthers basifixed or dorsifixed, with longitudinal extrorse 
or lateral dehiscence. Ovary inferior, 3-celled; ovules anatropous, few 
or many in a cell, superposed ; style filiform, usually 3-furcate ; branches 
simple or forked, very various in structure. Fruit a capsule with 
loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds globose or flattened ; testa membranous ; 
embryo small, placed in the middle of the horny albumen near the 
hilum.—Root fibrous. Rootstock a rhizome or tunicated corm. 
Leaves often but not invariably distichous and concentrated at the 
base of the stem. Flowers one or several to a spathe, various in colour, 
often fugitive. 
Species about 700, concentrated in South Africa, spread also principally through 
the temperate and subtemperate zones of both hemispheres. 
TRIBE I. Moreeeve.—Stamens placed opposite the style-branches, Flowers 
usually more than one to a spathe. 
Style-branches furnished with 2 petaloid crests with a 
transverse stigma at their base. 
Peduncle terete. Inner segments of the perianth not 
convolute : : : 3 5 e . 1. MOREA. 
Peduncle flat. Inner segments of the perianth con- - 
volute . : S - è - : 2. MARIOA. 
Stigma terminal on the laciniated style-branches . . 3. FERRARIA, 
TRIBE II, Sisyrinchieve.— Stamens alternate with the style-branches, Flowers 
not spicate, 
Spathes l-flowered . A > : e . 4. ROMULEA. 
Spathes many-flowered ; : BIER 
TRIBE II. rxiege.—Stamens alternate with the style-branches, Flowers 
spicate, always solitary in the spathes. 
Stamens divergent, equilateral. 
Spathe-valves herbaceous, green e : . . 6, HESPERANTHA. 
Spathe-valves membranous . ; - ` . 7 DIERAMA. 
Stamens contiguous, unilateral, arcuate. 
Style-branches bifid - : S . : . 8. LaPEYROUSIA. 
Style-branches simple. 
Spathes short. 
Capsule few-seeded, inflated . S . 9. CRrocosMIA. 
Capsule many-seeded, not inflated . 4 . 10. TRITONIA. 
Spathes long. 
Perianth segments subequal. ə . . 11. ACIDANTHERA. 
Perianth segments unequal. 
Perianth-tube funnel-shaped . : . 12. GLADIOLUS. 
Perianth-tube suddenly dilated at the middle . 13. ANTHOLYZA, 
VOL. VII. Z 
