Tas. 7215. 
TRIS Fosrertana. 
Native of Afghamstan. 
Nat. Ord. Intpra.—Tribe Mon aE. \ 
Genus Iris, Linn. ; (Benth. & Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. iii. p. 686.) 
Inis (Xiphion) Fosteriana bulbo oblongo-cylindrico tunicis membranaceis 
brunneis, fibris radicalibus crassis, foliis 4-6 confertis rigidulis falcatis 
lanceolatis acuminatis pallide viridibus marginibus incrassatis, pedunculo 
. . 
brevi seepissime monocephalo, spathe valvis ventricosis subscariosis pal- 
lide viridibus, perianthii_ tubo producto segmentis exterioribus luteis 
obovatis in limbo ungui lato breviori, segmentis’ interioribus pendulis 
lilacinis obovato-unguiculatis, styli cristis magnis oblique ovatis. 
L. Fosteriana, Aitch. et Baker in Trans. Linn. Soe. Ser. 2 Bot. vol. iti. p. 114. 
This new species of bulbous Iris belongs to the same 
group as I. orchioides (Bot. Mag., tab. 7111), and I. sindjar- 
ensis (Bot. Mag., tab. 7145). From a horticultural point of 
view it differs from all its allies in the diversity in colour 
of the different parts of the flower. It was discovered in 
1884 by Surgeon-Major Aitchison, F.R.S., whilst acting 
as naturalist to the Afghanistan Delimitation Commission, 
erowing plentifully at Badghis in dry soil on the low hills 
at an elevation of three thousand feet above sea-level. 
These spring-flowering bulbous Irises of Central Asia are- 
very difficult to cultivate in our comparatively damp sun- 
less climate, but here, as in so many other cases, Professor 
Foster, after whom the species was named, has surmounted 
the difficulty, and our drawing was made from specimens 
which he sent from Cambridge this present spring. 
Desor. Buld oblong-cylindrical, about an inch in diameter, 
with brown membranous outer tunics produced above its 
neck and many fleshy root fibres. Leaves four to six, con- 
temporary with the flowers, crowded, falcate, lanceolate- 
acuminate, firm in texture, pale green, channelled down 
the face, strongly ribbed and furnished with a pale thickened 
horny boarder. Peduncle very short, bearing usually one, 
rarely two clusters of flowers. Spathes ventricose, about 
January Ist, 1892, 
Mae 
