Tab. 6352. 

 xiphion planifolium. 



Native of Algiers and South Europe. 



Nat. Ord. Iridace^e. — Tribe Irideje. 

 Genus Xiphion, Tournef. (Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xvi. p. 122.) 



Xiphion (Juno) planifolium ; bulbo magno ovoideo, tunicis bmmieis membrana- 

 ceis, foliis productis 5-6 lanceolatis suberectis acuminatis, spathse sessilis 

 ssepissime unifloris valvis magnis lanceolatis, periantbii lilacini tubo 2-4- 

 pollicari, limbi segmentis exterioribus oblongo-cuneatis obtusis 2-;j poll, longis 

 supra medium falcatis infra medium aurantiaco-carinatis segmentis interi- 

 oribus multo minoribus patulis oblanceolatis unguieulatis, stigmatibus 

 magnis periantbii segmentis exterioribus suba^quilongis, capsula oblonga in 

 centra foliorum sessibl, seminibus globosis testa brunnea. 



X. planifolium, Miller in Garcl. Diet. edit. vi. ; Baker in Journ. Linn. Soe. vol. xvi. 

 p. 123. 



Iris alata, Point, Voy. Barb. vol. ii. p. 86 ; Bot. Reg. t. 1876. 



I. scorpioides, Desf. Fl. Atlant. vol. i. p. 40, t. 6 ; Bed. Lil. t. 211. 



I. transtagana, Brotero, Fl. Lusit. vol. i. p. 52. 



I. trialata, Brotero, Phyt. Lusit. vol. ii. p. 44, t. ( .).">. 



I. microptera, Valil, Enum. vol. ii. p. 142. 



This is a most peculiar and unique Irid. It has very 

 large generally single delicate lilac flowers, that rise without 

 any stem from the centre of a number of leaves, the showy 

 part of the flower being made up of the large stigmas and 

 large outer segments of the perianth, the three inner segments 

 being very small and spreading from the top of the long 

 perianth-tube. It is widely spread through the south of 

 Europe, extending from Portugal to Sicily, and reappearing 

 across the Mediterranean. As it flowers from September 

 to January, it can only be satisfactorily grown in England 

 under cover, and lately it has been imported and sold in 

 considerable quantity to be grown in coloured glasses on 

 mantelpieces and in windows, like hyacinths. It has been 



MARCH 1st, 1878. 



