336 ORDER 142. IRIDACE^E. 



scarcely united. Ovary adherent at base only, opening at top, oo-seeded 

 U Smooth, intensely bitter. Leaves all radical, lin.-lanceolate. Jl, Aug. 



1 A. farinosa L. Lvs. rosulate, very acute, many- veined, 36' ; scape 2 3f, simple ; 



rac. about & ; fls. white, 4 6", on very short ped., oblong bell-form. Low grounds. 



2 A. aurea Walt. FLs. yellow. Otherwise scarcely diff. Both plants dry, yellowish. 



ORDER CXLIL IRIDACE^E. iRros. 



Herbs with corms, bulbs, or rhizomes, equitant, 2-ranked leaves and spatha- 

 ceous bracts. Perianth tube adherent to the ovary. Segments in 2 sets, 

 often unequal and convolute hi bud. Stamens 3, alternate with the petals, 

 anthers extrorse. Style 1, stigmas 3, often petaloid. Capsule 3-valved, 3- 

 celled, loculicidal. Seeds many, with hard, fleshy albumen. Figs. 85, 169, 

 170, 267-8, 282, 351. 



Flowers irregular, somewhat bilabiate, nodding GLADIOLUS. 5 



5 Flowers regular and equilateral, mostly erect... (*) 



Sepals similar to the petals in form, size, and position... (a) 



a Stamensdnonadelphous. Flowers small, blue. Plant grass-like SISYRINCHIUM. 7 



a Stamens aistinct.z Flowers radical, with a very long tube CROCUS. 6 



x Flowers cauline. Style 3-parted at top PARDANTHUS. 5 



x Flowers cauline. Style deeply 3-parted SCHIZOSTYLIS. 4 



* Sepals larger than the petals, and otherwise dissimilar... (6) 



b Stamens monadelphous. Petals spreading, panduriform, TIGRIDIA. 3 



6 Stamens distinct, 2 stigmas slender, on a slender style NKMASTYLIS. 2 



5 stigmas petaloid, on a very short style IRIS. 1 



1. IRIS, L. FLOWER-DE-LUCE. Sepals 3, reflexed, larger than the 3 

 erect petals. Sta. distinct. Style short or 0. Stig. petaloid, covering the 

 stamens. U Mostly from tuberous, horizontal rhizomes, with ensiform 

 leaves and large, showy flowers. 



* Species growing wild, all (except NOB. 6, 7) in wet meadows or swamps. Apr. Jn. () 



Stems leafy, tall (1 3f ). Tube short ; sepals beardless and crestless. . . (a) 



a Leaves linear, grass-like. Ovary and pod 2-grooved on the sides No. 1 



a Leaves sword-shaped. Fls. blue. Sepals much larger than the petals.. .Nos. 2 4 

 a Leaves sword-shaped. Fls. tawny or copper-colored. Petals reflexed... No. 5 



Stems or scapes low (26'), nearly leafless. Tube long and slender. . . (b) 



b Sepals beardless and crestless. In hilly woods, southward No. 6 



b Sepals beardless, but crested with 3 longitudinal folds Nos. 7, 8 



* Species cultivated for ornament, mostly from Europe. ..(x) 



x Sepals densely bearded. y Stems very short, 1-flowercd No. 9 



y Stems tall, leafy, 1-5-flowered Nos. 1013 



x Sepals beardless. 2 Root a rhizome... Nos. 14, 15. z Root bulbous Nos. 1618 



1 I. VIrginica L. Boston Iris. Stem slender, 1 2f, branching; leaves 23" wide; 



fls. 2 6, on slender ped. ; sep. narrow, yellow, edged with purple. Mass, to N. J. Jn. 



2 I. versicolor L. Blue Flag. Stem flexuous, 2 3f ; pet. as long as the stigmas; 



ovary triangular, with concave sides and rounded angles. Common. June. 



3 I. hexagona Walt. Lvs. longer than the flexuous stem ; tube longer than the 6- 



sided ovary ; sepals larger than the petal?, blue-purple, crested. S., coastward. 



4 I. tripetala Walt. Lvs. shorter than the slender stem ; tube shorter than the 3- 



sided ovary ; sepals many times larger than the petals. S. : rare. Purple. 



5 I. cuprea Ph. Tall and flexuous, 2 3f ; petals twice longer than the linear stig- 



mas ; capsules sharply 6-angled, shorter than the tube. S. and W. April July 



