IRISES. 115 



In spring from about eight to ten leaves arched backwards grow 

 above the sheaths, which extend a little so that the uppermost of 

 them is the longest, and which, like the next below it, is far more 

 membranous than the others which contain the nutriment that 

 is gradually absorbed. A few of the leaves grow at the base of 

 the peduncle, but the others, separated by tolerably large interuodes. 

 are disposed on the peduncle, which is about a foot high, and is 

 terminated by a flower near which another breaks forth. Buds 

 occur only in the axils of the scales, and not in those of the leaves ; 

 the lower are smaller, the upper larger. Two modifications of the 

 buds or young bulbs occur in cultivated specimens. The larger 

 (Fig. 3), which are seated in the axil of the highest scale, are 

 formed at the time of the flowering of the parent bulb, in June, 

 merely of sheathing scales. The first, in the usual position, is 

 quite membranaceous, and becomes at a later period a brown skin. 

 The second is of the same nature, while the third and those 

 which follow are very fleshy. No leaves are at present visible. 

 The bulbs in the axils of the second and third scales, reckoning 

 from above (Fig. 4), are formed of one or two thin sheathing scales 

 (a and b) which are followed by from one to three leaves (c) whose 

 cylindrical blade, like that of the leaf of a non-flowering bulb of 

 Ornithogalum nutans, is fully developed at the time of the flower- 

 ing of the parent bulb ; these leaves are followed by some short 

 sheathing scales, a structure near to that of the buds of Iris 

 persica. 



The lower buds seldom come to perfection. Here also the 

 whole of the parent bulb perishes after flowering. 



Iris persica. 

 Fig. 1. Bulb in a state of rest. b. dried portion of scales of 



a. fleshy portion of its scales. bulb. 



Iris Xii-iiium. 



Fig. 2. Bulb from which the dry ' the successive scales. 



coats have been removed. Fig. 4. Young bulb in axil of se- 

 a. rudiments of filiform roots. cond and third scale. 



Fig. 3. Young bulb in axil of a, b. their sheathing scales. 



highest scale, showing | c. leaf. 



Crocus vermis, L. 



When the corm begins to vegetate in autumn, numerous simple 

 smooth fibrous roots penetrate the outer or lower dried sheaths, 



i 2 



