543 CXLIX. IRIDACE^. Tiuridia. 



stistingxiished by its very slender habit. Mass. ! to N. J. Rhizoma fleshy. Stem 

 smooth, 1—2" in diam., 1 — 2f high, branching at top and bearing 2 — 6 flowers. 

 Bracts at the base of the branches withering. Leaves few, alternate, grass- 

 like, 6—10' long, amplexicaul. Sepals narrow, yellow, edged with purple. 

 Petals linear-lanceolate. June. 

 3. I. LACUSTRIS. Nutt. 



L/vs. ensiform, longer than the low, compressed, l-flowered scape ; se^. 

 of the perianth nearly equal, obtuse, emarginate, the sepals scarcely crested ; 

 cafs. turbinate, 3-sided, margined. — Islands of Lake Huron, near Mackinaw, 

 Nuttall. Roots extensively creeping. Leaves 2 — b' by 3 — 4", those of the scape 

 bract-like. Scape 1 — 2' high. Flowers pale blue, the sepals rather broader. Jn. 

 -\ 4. I. sAMBUCiNA. Mower-de-lAice. Fr., Fleur-de-lis. — Sf. many-flowered, longer 

 than the leaves ; segments of the perianth emarginate, outer ones flat ; Ivs. bent 

 inwards at the point ; spathe membranaceous at the apex ; fis. beardless, lower 

 ones pedunculate ; stig. with acute, serrate divisions. — Native of the South of 

 Europe. Common in gardens. The prevailing color of the flower is light 

 blue, often fading to white. May. f 



5. I. FUMiLA. Dwarf Iris. — Scape very short (3 — 6'), l-flowered ; spathe 

 shorter than the tube ; sep. reflexed, narrower than the erect petals. — A small 

 species from Hungary, cultivated in the edgings of walks. Leaves numerous, 

 broad-ensiform, suberect. Flowers large, deep purple, appearing in early spring.f 



6. 1. ocHROLEUCA. — Beardless ; Ivs. ensiform, depressed, striate ; scape subte- 

 rete ; ova. 6-angled. — A tall species from Levant. Stem 3 — 4f high. Flowers 

 ochroleucous or sulphur-yellow. July, -f 



7. I. Chinensis. China Iris. — Scape compressed, many-flowered ; stigmas 

 lacerated. A small species from China. Flowers elegantly striped. A few 

 other species are rarely cultivated in gardens, f 



2. I X I A. 



Gr. i|of, sticky; alluding to tlie glutinous juice of some species. 



Spatlie of 2 or 3, ovate, short bracts ; petals and sepals distinct or 

 slightly united, similar, regular ; sta. 3 ; filaments filiform ; stigma 

 straight or incurved, fixed by the base, subfiliform. 



I. Chinensis. — St. terete, flexuous, leafy; lis. ensiform, vertical, sheathing; 

 panicle somewhat dichotomous and corymbose ; perianth campanulate, segments 

 6, lance-linear. — Native of S. Africa, frequent in gardens. Western and South- 

 em States. Whole plant smooth, 3 — 5f high. Leaves erect, tapering to an 

 acute point. Flowers yellow, spotted with red inside, about 1' long. Jl., Aug. f 



3. GLADIOLUS. 



Lat. gladlu-s, a sword ; in reference to the form of the leaves. 



Spathe 2-leaved ; perianth irregular ; stamens distinct, ascending ; 

 stigmas 3 ; seeds winged. — A large genus of bulbous 2}la7its, with large 

 and showy flowers. None 7iative. 



G. COMMUNIS. — /S^'^e unilateral ; upper segment of the perianth covered by the 

 lateral ones, 3 lower marked by a white, linear-lanceolate spot, lowest very 

 large. — A fine border flower, from S. Europe. Stem 2 — 3f high, with the flow- 

 ers arranged in a long, somewhat spiral row upon it. Perianth large, deep red, 

 variegated with white. Its colors are liable to considerable variation. Jl. f 



4. TIGRIDIA. 



Name in reference to the large spotted flowers. 



Spathe 2-leaYed ; the 3 sepals larger than the 3 petals ; stamens 

 monadelphous ; filaments united into a long tube. 



T. Pavonia. Tiger Flower. — St. simple, flexuous; Ivs. ensiform, veined; 

 segments flat; pet. panduriform. — A superb, bulbous plant, with large, beautiful 

 flowers, native of Mexico and Peru. Stem 2f high or more, erect, round, leafy, 

 somewhat branched. Leaves erect, smooth, a foot long. Flower inodorous, 



