CHAP, m.] IRIDACE^. 443 



richly coloured ; and they are succeeded by the 

 fruit, which hang down in massive spikes of 

 enormous weight. The leaves are very large 

 and strong, and Indian muslin is manufactured 

 from the fibres of one of the species. The prin- 

 cipal other genera, Strelitzia and Heliconia, are 

 both remarkable for the brilliant colours of 

 their flowers. 



ORDER CLXXXVII.— IRIDACE^. 



The principal genera belonging to this order 

 are — Iris, Morsea, Marica, Vieusseuxia, Homeria, 

 Sisyrinchium, Patersonia, Witsenia, Ferraria, 

 Tigridia, Babiana, Watsonia, Gladiolus, Spa- 

 raxis, Tritonia, Ixia, and Crocus; but almost 

 every genus contained in the order has showy 

 flowers, and is consequently well known in gar- 

 dens. The leaves are generally thin, long, and 

 flat, with the edge towards the stem, and the 

 flowers are produced from spathes ; the perianth 

 is also in six segments coloured alike, the calyx 

 and corolla being in most cases confounded toge- 

 ther. The genus Iris has generally tuberous or 

 solid bulbous roots, of the kind called corms, and 

 the perianth of the flower is divided into six 

 segments, three of which are larger than the 

 others ; these three larger segments, which form 



