106 ODOROGRAPHIA. 
and subsequent solution in alcohol as an “extrait.” It is 
exceedingly fine, and rarely obtainable quite pure at the shops: 
the “ extrait de violette,” vended retail, being largely composed of 
tincture of orris-root, an odour approaching it, but almost as 
distantly as does that of the pelargonium to the rose. 
Orris Root. 
This is produced from three species of Iris :— 
1. The Iris germanica, Linn. This plant has large dark blue 
flowers, and is common in the environs of Florence and of Lucca. 
It is found in various places in Central’ and Southern Europe, in 
the North of India, and in Morocco. ‘This variety is the one 
mostly cultivated in gardens in temperate countries in Europe. 
2. Iris pallida, Lamarck. This resembles the germanica except 
in the colour of its flowers, which are more pale. It is found wild 
in calcareous soils in Istria. It is abundant in the environs of 
Florence and of Lucca, in the olive districts. 
3. Iris Florentina, Linn. This species bears large white flowers. 
It is a native of the coast of Macedonia and the south-west coasts 
of the Black Sea. It also grows in an indigenous state near the 
Gulf of Ismid and in the vicinity of Adalia in Asia Minor. It is 
also found in the environs of Florence and of Lucca, but in the 
opinion of Hanbury it is not indigenous but merely acclimatized 
to these two last situations. He is also of opinion that the three 
above-named species are clearly distinct, and gives hotanical 
reasons for that opinion * . 
As the bulk of the orris-root of commerce is derived from the 
I. germanica and I. pallida, and as the Iris Florentina is not a 
native of Florentine soil, the commercial term for distinguishing 
the best orris-root seems rather a mistake. The district may, and 
in fact does, produce finer roots than the district of Verona—hence 
the source of error in stating the root to be obtained from Jris 
Florentina and ignoring the two principal varieties. Formerly, 
commercial orris-root was supplied from the wild plant only, but 
during the last few years plantations have been established in the 
district of Verona ; and as the plants begin to yield after three 
* Hist. des Drogues, ii. p. 472. 
