NAT. ORDER 



Iridece. 



IRIS SAMBUCINA. YELLOW OR PURPLE WATER-FLAG. 



Class III. Triandria. Order I. Monogynia. 

 Gen. Char. Corolla, six-petalled, unequal. Petals, alternate, 

 jointed, and spreading. Stigjnas, petal-form, cowled, two- 

 lipped. ^ 

 Spe. Char. Corolla, beardless. Interior Petals, less than the stig- 

 mas. Leaves, ensiform. 



The root is perennial, about half an inch in thickness, of an 

 irregular shape, horizontal, on the outside blackish, covered with 

 ridged fibres, and puts forth many long, whitish, perpendicular, 

 slender roots, which within are spongy, and of a yellowish red 

 color ; the leaves which grow from the root are upright, broad, 

 sword-shaped, and at the bottom riding or closely embracing each 

 other ; those on the stalk are short, alternate, and sheathe the joints 

 of the stem ; the stalk is upright, round, smooth, alternately in- 

 clined from joint to joint; thejlowers are large, showy, of a pur- 

 ple or yellow color, and stand upon short bi-anches, which proceed 

 from the joints of the stem; the corolla divides into six segments 

 or petals ; of these the three inner ones are small and erect ; the 

 three outside are large, of a roundish, oval shape, turning back, 

 and painted near the base with reddish lines ; the calyx is a sheath, 

 or spathe, of two, three, or four valves, according to the number 

 of the flowers ; the filaments are flat and tapering ; the anthers 

 are oblong, yellowish at the edges, purplish, and bent down by 

 the stigmas ; the germen is triangular, and placed below the co- 



Vol. U.--149. 



