FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 69 



The Iridaceae differ principally from their relatives, the Ama- 

 ryllidaceae, in having the inner circle of stamens wanting; the flowers 

 are frequently irregular, and the leaves are usually what is called 

 equitant, that is, one leaf is folded over its successor and bestrides it, 

 after the fashion of a man on horseback. 



The typical genus, Iris, is illustrated in figure 50. The irises are 

 much esteemed in cultivation on account of the beauty and variety of 

 their flowers. Orris root, the basis of various different sachet perfumes, 

 is the product of several Mediterranean species of this genus. A very 

 different type of flower from the iris is seen in the Crocus, certain 

 species of which are familiar to us in the garden in early spring time. 

 In the Crocoideae the root is a corm, and the leaves are linear and not 

 equitant. The stigmas of Crocus mtrnis yield the well-known coloring 

 matter, saffron. Another example of, a familiar ornamental genus is 

 Gladiolus, the garden forms of which, after 3'ears of careful selection 

 and hybridization, are almost innumerable. 



