142 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



German Flag — Iris germanica 

 (Plate XCVI) 



This species, which much resembles some of 

 our common garden Flags, is found in dry places 

 (hills and walls) in various districts of Central and 

 Southern Europe. The perianth is 6-lobed, and 

 unites below into a tube which surrounds the pistil, 

 which terminates in 3 large petal like stigmas, 

 which curve over the stamens. 



Although one of our native flags is sometimes 

 pale blue, our commonest species is the Yellow 

 Flag {Iris pseudacorus), which grows everywhere 

 in ditches and swamps. The Blue Flags, common 

 in North America, are also found in marshy places. 



Gladiolus — Gladiolus communis 

 (Plate XCVII) 



This is a flower which is more often seen in 

 gardens than wild, for it is not very abundant on 

 the Continent ; and in England it is very scarce, 

 the New Forest and (once) the Isle of Wight being 



the only recorded localities. It grows from a tuber, 

 and the spike of reddish-purple flowers extends 

 on one side only of the flower-stalk. The perianth 

 is formed of 6 petals, united and tubular at the 

 base, and then forming an upper and lower lip 

 of 3 petals each. There are 3 stamens, and the 

 single stigma is surmounted by 3 spatulate stigmas. 

 Except in colour, the spike has some slight 

 resemblance to the wild hyacinth (bluebell). It 

 varies somewhat in colour in different localities. 

 The British plant belongs to var. illyricus ; it 

 flowers in June. 



Spring Crocus — Crocus vermis 



(Plate XCVIII) 



The true Crocuses are easily distinguished by 

 their very long tube and divided stigma. The 

 leaves and flowers are enclosed in a thin scaly 

 sheath. The plant grows from a bulb, and 

 flowers in spring, the flowers being either purple 

 or yellow. The Spring Crocus is a very local 

 plant in England. 



