GL ADDON 173 



and Its leaves put into the boots of the traveller were 

 thought to preserve him from becoming footsore and to 

 give him great power of endurance. 



GLADDON (Iris Fcetidissima) 



The fruit of the Gladdon, or foetid Iris, forms the 

 subject of our twenty-seventh illustration. This gladdon, 

 the Iris fcetidissima of the botanist, is a very near relative 

 of the yellow flag, a plant that has recently engaged 

 our attention, and which may be found figured in Plate 

 XXV. It is in some country districts called, with full 

 force of vituperation, the stinking iris, and it will be 

 noticed that in its scientific name nothing but the strength 

 of a Latin superlative suffices to express its obnoxious 

 character. All this, however, is a little uncalled for, for 

 while some persons, gifted with a fine sense of smell, 

 heap the most slighting epithets upon it, others, perhaps 

 no less discriminating, and of a finer charity to see good 

 where possible, compare its odour to that of roast beef. 

 Whereat one can only recall the old reminder of how 

 tastes are found to differ. This vilified odour only arises 

 when the plant is bruised. 



While the yellow flag prospers by the sides of our 

 streams the gladdon is a lover of the woods and pastures. 

 It is abundant in many parts of the south and west of 

 England, but becomes much rarer as we travel north, 

 and finally disappears. The particular specimens we 

 figure we obtained from the Isle of Wight ; we have 

 also seen it plentifully in Dorsetshire, Somersetshire, and 

 elsewhere. 



