BLUE FLAG. 457 
Leaves sword shaped, striated, sheathing at base. 
Bractes becoming scarious. Peduncles of various 
length, flattened on the inside. Germ three cor- 
nered, with flat sides and obtuse angles. Outer 
petals of the flower spatulate, beardless, the bor- 
der purple, the claw variegated with green, yel- 
low 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, concealed ; stigmas three, 
petal-form, purple or violet, resting on the outer 
petals, their extremeties bifid, 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 round- 
ish angles. Seeds numerous, flat. 
The young leaves of this and some other spe- 
cies of Iris, afford an excellent view of the spiral 
filament, which lines the sap vessels of the leaf. 
If a leaf, which has just emerged from the ground, 
be carefully broken across, and the segments 
gradually drawn asunder, these fine filaments will 
unroll themselves, and their spiral structure: be- 
come very obvious to the microscope. Ze 
The root of the Iris versicolor has a nauseous 
taste, and when swallowed or held in the mouth, 
