Class III. Order III. 15 



B. Flowers superior. 



53. PROSERPINACA. Corolla none ; calyx three 

 parted ; seed one, three celled. 



TRIANDRIA. 



MONOGYNIA. 



15. IRIS. 

 IRIS VERSICOLOR. L. Blue Flag. 



Bigelow, Medical Botany, PI. xvi. 



Leaves ensiform, stem acute on one side, capsules 

 oblong, three sided, with obtuse angles. 



Syn. IRIS VIRGIXICA. \st edit. 



The most common and shewy ornament of our meadows in the 

 early part of summer. The root is fleshy, horizontal, sending 

 down a multitude of fibres. Stem two or three feet high, round 

 on one side, acute on the other, frequently branched, and bear- 

 ing from two to six flowers. Leaves sword shaped, striated, 

 sheathing at base. Bractes becoming scarious. Peduncles of 

 various length, flattened on the inside. Germ three cornered, 

 with flat sides and obtuse angles. Outer petals of the flower 

 spatulate, beardless, the border purple, the claw variegated with 

 green, yellow, and white, and veined with purple. Inner petals 

 erect, varying in shape from spatulate to lanceolate, usually 

 paler than the outer, entire or emarginate. Style short, con- 

 cealed ; stigmas three, petal-form, purple or violet, resting on 

 the outer petals, their extremities hiiid, crenate, and more or 

 less reflexed ; their lower lip short. Stamens concealed under 

 the stigmas with oblong-linear anthers. Capsule three celled, 

 three valved ; when ripe, oblong, turgid, three sided, with 

 roundish angles. Seeds numerous, flat. 



Borders of s\va>ni>* and wet meadows. June. Perennial. 

 The root is a violent emetic. 



