lEIS FAMILY. 449 



DIOSCOREACEAE. Yam Family. 



DIOSCOREA L. Sp. PI. 2 : 1032. 1753. 



About 150 species, perennial climbers, of tlie wanner ])art;s of the globe, largely 

 American. Japan. 



Dioscorea villosa L. Sp. PI. 2 : 1033. 1753. Wild Yam. 



Ell. Sk. 2:704. Gray, Man. ed. 6, 517. Chap. Fl. 474. Coulter, Coutr. Nat. 

 Herb. 2:430. 



Alleghenian to Louisiauiau area. Southern Ontario, southern New England; 

 throughout tlie Atlantic States to Florida and Texas. 



Alakama: All over the State, in damp woods. Cullman, Tuscaloosa, Jackson, 

 Clarke and Mobile counties. jSIay; frequent. 



Economic uses : The root, under the name of "wild yam root," is used nouofticially 

 in medicine. 



Type locality : "Hah. in Virginia, Florida." 



Herb. Geol. Surv. Herb. Mohr 



IRIDACEAE. Iris Family. 

 IRIS L. Sp. PL 1 : 38. 1753. 



Near 100 species, perennials, warmer and temperate zones of the Northern Hemi- 

 sphere. North America, 20. Japan. 



Iris versicolor L. Sp. PL 1:39. 1753. Blue Flaii, 



EIL Sk. 1:45. Gray, Man. ed. 6, 513. Chap. FL 472, 



Canadian zone to Louisianian area. Newfoundland, Ontario, Manitoba, New 

 England west to Minnesota and Nebraska, south to Florida and Louisiana. 



Alabama: Throughout the State. Marshes, ponds. Montgomery, Mobile, and 

 lialdwin counti. s. Flowers azure. April. 



Economic uses: The rhizoma, under the name of "blue flag root" is used medic- 

 inally. 



Type locality : "Hab. in Virginia, Marilandia, Pensylvania." 



Herb. Geol. Surv. Herb. Mohr. 



Iris hexagona Walt. Fl. Car. 66. 1788. Southern Blue Flag. 



Iris virqinica Michx. FL Bor. Am. 1 : 22. 1803. 



Ell. Sk." 1 : 46. Chap. Fl. ed. 3, 500. Britt. &, Br. 111. Fl. 1 : 448,/. 1070. 



Louisianian and Carolinian areas. Texas and Louisiana to Florida and South 

 Carolina; Missouri, Kentucky (Britton & Brown). 



Alabama: Coast plain in the tide-water region. Open deep marshes. Mobile 

 County, estuary of Mobile River and adjacent marshes, with Iris versicolor, Ciciita 

 maculata, etc. 



Flowers April. Outer perianth deep cerulean blue with an orange-yellow, sparsely 

 hairy crest, inner pale azure. One and one-half to 3 feet high. Abundant. 



Type locality : South Carolina. 



Iris verna L. Sp. PL 1 : 39. 1753. Dwarf Ikis. 



Gray, Man. ed. 6, 514. Chap. Fl. 473. 



Carolinian and Louisianian areas. AVestern Pennsylvania, Kentucky south from 

 Virginia to Georgia. 



Alabama: Coast Pine belt. Dry pine ridges. Washington County, Yellowpiue. 

 Escambia County, Flomaton. Monroe County. Baldwin County, Stockton. Mobile 

 County, Springhill. March, April. Flowers pale azure. Frequent. 



Economic uses : Planted for ornament. 



Type locality : " Hah. in Virginia." 



Herb. Geol. Surv. Herb. Mohr. 



Iris cristata Ait. Hort. Kew. 1 : 70. 1789. Crested Iris. 



Ell. Sk. 1 : 44. Gray, Man. ed. 6, 514. Chap. FL 473. 



Carolinian area. Maryland, Virginia to Iowa, south to North (Jaiolina, and along 

 the mountains to Georgia. 



Alaha.ma: Mountain region to Lower hills. Damp, shady banks. Winston County, 

 CoUifrs Creek, 1,500 feet. Cullman County. Tuscaloosa County {E. A. Smith). 

 Flowers pale blue. April, May ; not frefiuent. 



Economic uses: Ornamental plant, grown in borders. 



Type locality: "Native of North America.'" 



Herb. Geol. Surv. Herb. Mohr. 



15894 29 



