200 FLORA HISTORICA. 



tion of the powder of this root mixed with common 

 hair-powder. It is the Orris root of the shops, so 

 frequently chewed by those who have a fetid breath: 

 it was formerly much esteemed in medicine ; and 

 old writers extol its virtues as an attenuant, emol- 

 lient, and pectoral, and, therefore, as being good 

 for the lungs. At present we believe it is only held 

 valuable for the pleasantness of the flavour which 

 it communicates to medicine. 



The Florentine Iris produced its white blossoms 

 in English gardens previous to 1596, as we are in- 

 formed by Gerard. 



One of the most curious species of this genus of 

 plants that we have seen is the Iris dichotoma, 

 Afternoon Iris, or Scissor plant. It has the slen- 

 derest stem, and the smallest flower, of all the 

 Irises, and the corolla never expands until after 

 mid-day — hence the trivial name. It is a native 

 of Dauria, and is called Cheitschi (Scissors) in the 

 Mogul language, from the form of the fork pro- 

 duced by the two branches which support the 

 flowers. 



It is not even " the flower of a day," for it 

 never fails to collapse before night by a two- fold 

 inflexion, rolling inwards at the limb or upper por- 

 tion, and twisting spirally together at the ungues 

 or lower. 



