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XVIII. Descriptions of the Indian Species of Iris. By Davin WA Esq., 
Libr. L.S., Prof. Bot. King’s Coll. Lond. 
Read December 18th, 1838. 
I AM indebted to my friend and colleague Dr. Royle for the opportunity of 
presenting to the Linnean Society the following account of several interesting 
species of the beautiful genus Jris, derived from materials collected by him 
during his sojourn in the countries forming the north-west boundary of Bri- 
tish India. Dr. Royle's collection contains four species of this genus, one of 
which is entirely new, the other three being identical with those in the Wal- 
lichian Herbarium, which besides comprises two additional species: one of 
them, gathered in Ladak by that enterprising traveller, the late Mr. Moor- 
croft, and closely related to the Iris biglumis of Vahl, I have included in this 
paper; the other is from Armenia, and is the Iris reticulata of the “ Flora 
Taurico- Caucasica ," although recorded, apparently on the authority of M. 
Belanger, as Iris persica in Wallich's Catalogue. The number of species 
therefore actually belonging to the Indian Flora is five. | 
The species of this genus naturally divide themselves into two groups, which 
are characterized by certain differences in their structure and ceconomy, and 
in some degree by their geographical distribution. The first group have sca- 
riose spathes, a distinct tube, the sepals bearded, and the petals broader, 
and overlapping each other at their extremities. To this group belongs the 
far greater part of the European species, which are also remarkable for being 
early-flowering, the broad convergent petals serving to protect the stamens 
and pistil from the effects of the weather during the period of their blossom- 
ing, and the bearded crest of the sepals is doubtless for the purpose of brush- 
ing out and retaining the pollen until taken up by the recurved stigmas, 
whose absorbing apices are brought into close contact with it; the anthers 
are directly opposed to the crest, and their cells face outwards. The second 
