BLUE FLAG 



part of this stem becomes tubular. It then divides into 

 six segments, of which the outer or sepaloid ones have 

 great beauty both of form and color, being broadest 

 toward the rounded tip, spreading and recurved. 

 They are violet-blue, with 

 white and yellow mark- 

 ings and dark purple 

 veinings. The three inner 

 or petaloid segments, 

 each on a claw, are much 

 smaller, less spreading, 

 and nearly erect. They 

 are violet-blue with pur- 

 ple veinings. 



Looking directly into 

 the flower, one fails at 

 first to discover either 

 pistil or stamens; cer- 

 tainly the accustomed 

 yellow heart is wanting. 

 But pistil and stamens 

 are both present though 

 one has taken an unusual 

 form and the other is 

 well hidden. The heart of 

 the blossom which looks 

 like three additional 

 petals is the enlarged and glorified style, divided into 

 three arms which separate and curve outward. These 

 arms are also violet-blue, darker at the tip and paler 

 on the arch. The stigmatic surface is so hidden that 

 one rarely sees it except one searches, placed as it is 

 under the tip of the style-arm. It can be detected by 



27 



Blue Flag. Iris versicolor 



