Iris. CXLIX. IRIDACEZ. 541 
reflexed, about as long as the stamens. Capsule ovate, dissepiments arising 
from the centre of each valve. Seeds white. July, Aug._ 
3. ALETRIS. 
Gr. (aderrp) aXetarpos, meal; from the powdery dust with which the plant is covered. 
Perianth 6-cleft, tubular, rugose, persistent ; stamens issuing at the 
top of the tube, style 3-sided, 3-partible; capsule opening at top, 
many-seeded.— Lvs. radical, rosulate. Scape many-flowered. 
1. A. FarINOsa. (A. alba. Mz.) Star-grass. Colic Root. 
Iws. broad-lanceolate ; fls. oblong-tubular, pedicelled; perianth in fruit 
rugose or mealy in appearance.—Grows in low grounds, in most of the States. 
Root premorse, intensely bitter. Scape 20—30’ high, with remote scales or 
bracts, and surrounded at base with a circle of lanceolate, sessile leaves. These 
are 3—4’ long, } as wide, and lie flat upon the ground. Flowers in a long, 
thin raceme. Perianth white, }’ long, on very short pedicels, rugose without 
when oid. Medicinal. July. 
2. A. aurea. Walt. Yellow Aletris. 
Lvs. lanceolate ; fis. subsessile ; perianth short, tubular-campanulate, yel- 
low, finally rugose and very scabrous.—In the pine barrens of N. J. to Car., 
abundant. Scarcely distinct from the preceding. Torrey. Scape 2—3f high, 
with few, yellow flowers in the spicate raceme. Leaves all radical. Jl., Aug. 
-Orver CXLIX. IRIDACE#.—Irms. 
Herbs perennial, arising from bulbs, corms or rhizomas, rarely from fibrous roots. 
Lvs. equitant, mostly distichous. Fis. with spathaceous bracts. ’ 
Per.—Tube adherent to the ovary, limb 6-parted, colored, in 2 often unequal series. 
N/a. 3, alternate with the 3 petals. Amnzhers 2-celled, extrorse. : 
Ova. 3-celled, many-ovuled. Style 1. Stigmas 3, dilated or petaloid. ; {albumen, 
Fr.—Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeas numerous, with hardened, fleshy 
Genera 52, species 550, chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope, or of the middle of Europe or N. Amer. 
Properties —More remarkable for their beauty than their utility. Some of them are cathartic, as Irir 
tuberosa. The aromatic orris root is the dried rhizoma ot Iris fiorentina of S. Europe. Saffron consists 
of the dried orange-colored stigmas of Crocus sativus. 
Conspectus of the Genera. 
Shee distinct. 0 peat, coh rig 1 
Petals smaller than the sepals. ? Stamens united. a. Poe ae ee 4 
Tube short. . Iza. 2 
pic can Tube very long. .) o— Crocus, 6 
ete & Petals and sepals subequal, ? spreading,fiat. Tube short. - «+ Sisyrinchium. 5 
Flowers 0irregular. Seeds winged. . . +. + + «© «© « « « » Gladiolus. 3 
Lt His: 
Named from the Greek, signifying rainbow ; on account of the varied color of the flowers. 
Sepals 3, reflexed, larger than the 3 erect petals; stamens dis- 
tinct ; style short or 0; stigmas petaloid, covering the stamens.— 
Lvs. mostly ensiform. 
~ 1. E. versicétor. - Blue Fvag. 
‘St. terete, flexuous; lvs. ensiform; fls. beardless; ova. triangular, with 
concave sides and roundish angles.—Grows in wet grounds, (U.S. and Can.,) 
where its large, blue flowers are conspicuous among the grass. Rhizoma large, 
horizontal, acrid. Stem 2—3f high, acute on one side, often branched and bear- 
ing several flowers. Leaves a foot long, }—1’ wide, erect, sheathing at base. 
Sepals spatulate, purple, the claw variegated with green, yellow and white, 
with purple lines. Petals erect, paler, a little shorter than the stigmas. Style 
short, bearing 3 petaloid stigmas which are reflexed and bifid at the end, purple 
or violet, concealing the stamens beneath. Anther oblong; seeds flat. June. 
8. sulca'a (Turr.) St. nearly straight; pet. longer than the stigmas; angles 
of the ovary sulcate. 
2. I. prismatica. Pursh. (I. Virginica. Torr.) Boston Iris. ‘ 
St. round, slender, few-flowered ; lvs. linear, long ; fis. beardless; ova. tri- 
angular, the side doubly grooved.—In similar situations with the last, readily 
