PETALOIDEZ 205 
The Iris is a tall, erect plant with radical leaves 
which are equitant, and the plant has the grass habit. 
The leaves enclose the scape at the base with a 
sheath. The leaves are ensiform, flat, lanceolate, 
and are not, as in the Sweet Flag, wrinkled at the 
margin. 
The scapes bearing the flowers are tall, terete, the 
flowers large, yellow, the petals suberect, stipitate, 
the margins incurved, the outer ones of a clear 
yellow tint, the blade obovate, and the claw short. 
The stigmas are conspicuous and yellow. The tri- 
quetrous capsules are three-ribbed, the seeds flat and 
numerous. 
The height attained by the Yellow Flag is 3 ft. or 
more. June is the time of flowering. 
Honey is contained in the flowers. The sepals 
are petaloid, and bent down externally. The styles 
are also petaloid, and opposite them, and the 
stamens inserted at the base are below them, the 
filaments free, the anthers opening outwards. The 
flowers being large and conspicuous and fragrant, the 
stigmas arching over the stamens, insects touch the 
former and bring fresh pollen to it in the effort to 
reach the pollen below the stamens. There is a flap 
just above the anthers on the outer side of the style 
which is the stigma, and insects on withdrawing from 
a flower close up the flap, thus preventing self-pollina- 
tion. Bees, humble bees and flies visit it. 
The capsule dehisces above, and the seeds, which 
are smooth and flat, are blown out by the wind. 
