Tab. 6942. 

 IRIS (Xiphion) Vaetani. 



Native of Palestine. 



Nat. Ord. Iride.e.— Tribe MoB.EE.a3. 

 Genus Ibis, Linn. ; (Benth, et Hoolc.f. Gen. PL vol. iii. p. C8f>.) 



Ibis (Xiphion) Vartani ; bulbis anguste ovoideis dense cajspitosis tunicis exteri- 

 oribus fibroso-eancellatis pallide brunneis, foliis rudimentariis paucis linearibus 

 scariosis, productis 2 tetragonis viridibus angulis acutis faciebus leviter 

 excavatis, pedunculo brevissirao hypogajo, spatha? valvis lanceolatis mem- 

 branaceis pallidis insequalibus, perianthio tubo pallido 2^-pollicari, limbo 

 lilacino segmentis exterioribus oblongo-spathulatis multilineatis flore expanso 

 e medio patulis e basi supra medium crista lutea crispata prseditis, interioribus 

 paulo brevioribus erectis oblanceolato-unguiculatis, antheris lilacinis filamento 

 brevi, styli appendicibus pulchre lilacino lineatis lamina longioribus. 



I. Vartani, Foster in Gard. Chron. N. S. vol. xxiii. (1885), p. 438. 



This very interesting new bulbous Iris, which has lately- 

 been introduced into cultivation from the north of Palestine 

 by Professor M. Foster, forms, with I. reticulata (Bot. Mag., 

 tab. 5577) and I. Eistrio (Bot. Mag., tab. 6033), a group 

 very different in habit and leaf from anything else. The 

 present plant is easily distinguished from the two species 

 known previously by the very large appendages of the 

 stigma, and by the outer segments of the perianth having 

 a distinctly-raised crisped carinal crest, like that of an 

 Evansia. It has not the delightful violet fragrance of 

 reticulata, and the colour is much duller. The bulbs were 

 sent to Dr. Foster about 1883, by Dr. Vartan, of the 

 Medical Mission stationed at Nazareth, after whom it is 

 named. A full account of it will be found in the paper in 

 the " Gardener's Chronicle " which I have cited. With Dr. 

 Foster it has flowered in October. The plants from which 

 our drawing was made were sent up last Christmas by the 

 Eev. H. Ewbank, of Bycle. 



Descr. Bulbs narrow ovoid, densely caespitose, sending 

 out copious root-fibres ; outer tunics formed of parallel 

 fibres, with narrow areohe between them; rudimentary 



jcne 1st, 1887. 



