Tab. 7040. 
TRIS Mepa. 
Native of Persia. 
Nat. Ord. In1tpEx.—Tribe MormeEx. 
Genus Iris, Linn. ; (Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Pl. vol. iii. p. 686.) 
Tris (Pogoniris) Meda; rhizomate breviter repente, foliis basalibus brevibus 
linearibus glaucescentibus, caule monocephalo foliis subsequilongo, spathe 
valvis binis contiguis Janceolatis herbaceis, pedicello subnullo, perianthii tubo 
ovario zquilongo limbi segmentis luteo-viridulis ubique venis brunneis decora- 
tis, exterioribus oblongo-cuneatis supra medium patulis barba centrali densa 
lutea brunneo marginata decoratis, interioribus erectis oblongis unguiculatis , 
styli ramis latis cristis parvis deltoideis. 
Iris Meda, Stapf in Bot. Ergeb. Polak Expedit. Pers. p. 20. 
This is a well-marked new Iris, which was discovered in 
Persia in the year 1882 by the Austrian traveller, Polak, 
and introduced by him to Vienna. Its nearest alliance is 
with the South European Iris Chameiris of Bertoloni, of 
which the flower in the type is yellow, and of which there 
are two fine violet varieties, one of which, J. olbiensis, 
Henon, was figured, Bot. Mag. t. 6110. Probably the 
present species will be also found to be variable in colour, 
as in the original description violet and lilac are mentioned. 
It is said to flower in its native home at the middle of 
May, and this was also the case with the plant in England. 
Our drawing was made from a plant grown at Shelford 
by Professor Michael Foster. 
Desor. Rhizome short-creeping, weaker than that of J. 
pumila. Basal leaves about four, linear, glaucescent, not 
more than three or four inches long at the flowering time. 
Stem one-headed, about as long as the leaves. Spathe 
one-flowered; valves contiguous, lanceolate, herbaceous, 
two or two and a half inches long; pedicels scarcely any. 
Ovary cylindrical, under an inch long; perianth-tube 
green, cylindrical, as long as the ovary; segments of the 
limb (in our plant) greenish-yellow, copiously veined from 
top to bottom with brown; outer segments oblong-cuneate, 
Fesrvary Ist, 1889. 
