472 iRiDACE^:. (iris family.) 



7. T. recurvata, Pursh. Leaves scurfy, bristle-awl-shaped, curved, nearly 

 terete, shorter than the stem ; stem naked above, 1 - 2-flowered ; corolla longer 

 than the calyx. — East Florida, ieco«<e. — Stem 6' high. Leaves ash-color, 2- 

 ranked, narrowly channelled. 



* * Stems Ji/i form, pendent : flowers solkarij, t/reen. 



8. T. USneoides, L. (Long Moss.) Scurfy and hoary; stems (l°-2° 

 long) branching ; leaves 2-ranked, linear-awl-shaped, recurved ; flowers sessile 

 at the summit of the branches, small ; sepals longer tlian the bracts, half as long 

 as the linear recurved green petals. — Humid situations in the lower districts, 

 Florida to North Carolina, and westward. June - Sept. 



Ordkr 147. IRIDACE^. (Iris Family.) 



Herbs, with linear or sword-sliaped ecjultant nerved leaves, and fuga- 

 cious often showy flowers from a 2-leaved spathe. — Perianth 6-parted, 

 the divisions spreading- and equal, or the inner ones smaller, convolute in 

 the bud. Stamens 3, distinct or united : anthers extrorse. Ovary adnate 

 to the tube of the perianth, 3-celled ; the numerous anatropous ovules 

 fixed to the central placentas. Style single : stigmas 3. Capsule loculi- 

 cldally 3-vaIved. Embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Synopsis. 



1. IRIS. Stigmas petal-like, covering the stamens : capsule angular. 



2. SISYRIXCIIIUM. Stigmas filiform : capsule globular : stem flat. 



3. NEMASTYLIS. Stigmas filiform, 2-parted: stem terete. 



1. mis, L. Blue Flag. Flower-dk-Llce. 



■Perianth corolla-like, 6-paitcd, the exterior divisions recurved, and often 

 crested or bearded within, the interior mostly smaller and erect. Stamens 3, 

 opposite the outer divisions of the perianth, concealed by the dilated i>etal-like 

 2-lipped spreading stigmas. Style 3-anglcd. Capsule 3 - 6-angled. Seed nu- 

 merous, flattened, packed in 2 rows in the cells. — Perennial herbs, with creep- 

 ing or tuberous rootstocks, simple or branched stems, linear or sword-shaped 

 leaves, and showy flowers from a scarious spathe. 



* Stems tall, leafi/ : dirisions of the perianth unequal. 



1 . I. versicolor, L. Stem nearly terete, simple or branched ; leaves 

 sword-shaped ; flowers terminal, single or spiked, crestless ; perianth pale blue, 

 variegated with white, yellow, and purple, the inflated tube shorter than the 

 obtusely 3-angled ovary ; stigmas 2-toothed at the base, with the lips entire, or 

 slightly crenate ; capsule oblong, obtusely 3-angled. — Wet places, Florida, and 

 northward. April and May. — Stem U° - 2° high. Lowest leaves 1^-2° 

 long, 1' - li' wide. Perianth 2' long. 



2. I. hexagona, Walt. Stem terete, simple ; leaves linear-sword -shaped ; 

 flowers axillary and terminal, solitary, crested ; perianth deep blue, variegated 

 with white, yellow, and ])urple ; the cylindrical angular tube longer than the 



