MONOCOTYLEDONS 



33 



order. All the members have sheathing leaves and 

 showy flowers. 



Yellow Flag or Corn Flag {Iris Pseiid-acoriis). 



This stout aquatic plant has sword-shaped leaves about 



The yellow flowers are very conspicuous 



2-3 feet long, 

 objects in 



recournized again. 



'shes and on 



the banks of rivers, and 

 when once seen are easily 



It must 

 be noted that the three 

 styles are yellow like tlie 

 rest of the flower, and look 

 like petals (fig. 15). 



Poisonous Properties, — 

 Agriculturists should be 

 made cognizant of the poi- 

 sonous qualities of this pi ant, 

 as it constitutes a danger 

 to cattle. The flowers and 

 the underground stem (rhi- 

 zome) have marked emetic 

 effects on cattle, and appa- 

 rently there is nothing suf- 

 ficiently distasteful in the 

 plant to restrain them from 



Sifijnuzs 



eatinor 



it. 



The rhizome 



Fig. 15.— Yellow Flag or Corn Flag 



{Iris raeud-acoiiiii) 



a, Seed. 



&, Capsule opening witli 

 seeils within. 



when fresh is very acid and 

 very astringent; after dry- 

 ing tlie acidity disappears, 



but the astringency remains. Tlie rhizome yields a good 

 black dye when treated with sulphate of iron. In addi- 

 tion, the seeds are used as a substitute for coffee. 



Stixkixg Iris.— Belono-incf to the same genus as the 



last is the Stinking Iris or Gladwin {Iris fiBtidU^lma), 

 a plant which is couunon m the hedges of limestone and 



