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-flowcred ; corolla longer 

 than tiic calyx. — East Florida, ZccoHte. — Stem 6' high. Leaves ash-color, 2- 

 ranked, narrowly channelled. 



* * Stems JiH form, pendent : Jlowers solitary, green. 



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

 long) branching ; leaves 2-rankcd, lincar-awl-shaped, recurved ; flowers sessile 

 at the summit of the branches, small ; sepals longer than 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. 



Order 147. IRIDACEiE. (Iris Family.) 



Ilorbs, with linear or sword-shaped eqnitant nerved leaves, and fuga- 

 cious often showy flowers from a 2-leave(l spathc. — Periantli 6-parted, 

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

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

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

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

 cidally 3-valved. Embryo in the axis of fleshy albuuien. 



Synopsis. 



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



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

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



1. IRIS, L. Blue Flag. Floaver-de-Lcce. 



Perianth corolla-like, 6-partcd, the exterior divisions rccuncd, 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 petal-like 

 2-lippcd spreading stigmas. Style 3-angled. 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 spatlie. 



* Sirms tall, leafij : divisions of the perianth unequal. 



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

 Bword-sliapcd ; flowers terminal, single or spiked, crestless ; perianth pale blue, 

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

 obtusely 3-anglcd ovary ; stigmas 2-tootbcd at the base, with the lips entire, or 

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

 northward. April and May- — Stem \}^°~2° high. Lowest leaves lJ°-2° 

 long, I' -\y wi(l('. Perianth 2' long. 



2. I. hoxagona, Walt. Stem terete, simple; loaves lincar-swonishnped; 

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

 with white, yellow, and purple ; the cylindrical angular tube longer than tho 



