1218 



IRIS* tenax. 

 Tough-threaded Iris. 



TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Iride^. 



IRIS. — Supn), vol. 3. fol. 246. 



§ Div. Imberbes. 

 I. tenax ; imberbis, foliis lineari-ensiformibus tenacissimis cauli unifloro 



suboequalibus, corollae tubo brevissimo, ovario longipedunculato nudo, 



petalis exterioribus obovatis acuminatis venosis, stigmatibus bilobis ab- 



breviatis. 

 I, tenax. Douglas journ. ined. 



Planta ccespitosa, foliis rigidis, erectis, lineari-ensiformibus, semper- 

 virentibus, tenacissimis, foribus {in spontanea) brevioribus. Caulis erectus, 

 pedalis, v. paulh major, angulatus, foliosus, basi vestigiis foliorum vestitus, 

 ut Allium Victorialis. Ovarium longipedunculatum, haud foliis floralibus 

 inclusum, subtriquetrum. Flores magnitudine I. virginicce, in ovario ses- 

 siles, atro-purpurei, veyiosi, petalis exterioribus obovatis, acuminatis, pa- 

 tentibus, imberbibus, iiiterioribus obovatis, rotundatis, erectis, brevioribus. 

 Stigmata biloba, abbreviata. 



A new species discovered by Mr. Douglas, to whom 

 we are much indebted for the following memorandum con- 

 cerning it : — 



*' A common plant in North California, and along the 

 coast of New Georgia, in dry soils or open parts of woods; 

 flowering in April and May. 



*' The native tribes about Aguilar river, in California, 

 find this plant very serviceable for many purposes : from 

 the veins of the leaves fine cord is made, which is con- 

 verted into fishing nets ; and from its buoyancy, great 

 strength, and durability, it suits this purpose admirably. 



* Iris was the Greek name of the rainbow, and has been applied to this 

 genus on account of its ever-varying colours. 



