IRIS. 205 



autumn) the Various-coloured, the Pale-yellow, the Grass- 

 leaved, aiid the Siberian, may be treated as the Snakes- 

 head species : they like an eastern aspect. 



To these may be added the Florentine Iris, White 

 Fleur-de-luce, or Flower-de-luce of Florence — in French, 

 lajlambe blanche — and the Crocus-rooted Iris, or Spanish 

 Nut : these should be hovised in winter, but merely m pro- 

 tect them from frost. The root of the former, corruptly 

 called orrice, is used to communicate a violet scent to hair- 

 powder, oils, and syrup. 



But it is useless to enumerate more : these already 

 named are the best adapted for pots, and the Persian Iris 

 is far preferable to all the others. Irises may be removed 

 every year, or second year, as most convenient. The 

 Persian may be kept till the third. 



The Common Yellow Iris is called Water-flag ; Yellow- 

 flag; Water-sedge; in Scotland, Water-skeggs ; Lugs — 

 in French, le glayeul des marais [marsh-flag] ; la jiamhe 

 batarde [false iris] ; le faux acore [false acorus] ; la fiambe 

 aquatique [water iris] ; le glayeul a fleur jaune [yellow 

 flag] : — Italian, hide gialla. — This and several other kinds 

 have valuable medicinal properties : the root may be used 

 instead of galls, in making ink, or black dye. The seeds 

 are the best substitute for coiFee, hitherto discovered. 

 The juice is sometimes used as a cosmetic for removing 

 freckles, &c., and a most beautiful colour for painting has 

 been prepared from the flowers. 



" Many of the African kinds," says Mr. Martyn, " are 

 eaten both by men and monkeys ; and the roots, when 

 boiled, are esteemed pleasant and nourishing." 



Although the Iris is not considered as a Lily, the 

 French have given it the name of one ; it is the Fleur-de- 

 lys, which figures in the arms of France. The Abbe la 



