IRIDE.E. 265 



shaped petals and sepals, which are usually white, tinged with 

 pink, and the broad convex lip, which is rich velvety-brown and 

 reticulated mth paler broA\Ti or yellow lines. The whole flower 

 is suggestive of a bee on wing. Native of hilly dry pastures in 

 chalky or limestone districts in Britain — but rather local — and 

 southern Europe. Flowers in early summer. 



0. aranifera, syn. 0. fucifera {Spider 0.) — This grows about 

 the same height as the last, but is not so pretty, though not less 

 interesting. The flowers, like those of the. Bee O., are produced 

 in few-flowered loose spikes at the extremities of the stems, and 

 are similarly constructed ; but the sepals and petals are green, 

 and the lip duller brown, with lighter-coloured spots in the 

 centre. Flowers in early summer. A rare native of Britain, in 

 similar soil and situation as the last, and southern Europe. 



IRIDE^. 



This is a splendid and numerous family, embracing, amongst 

 the more distinguished members, the Iris itself. Gladiolus, and 

 Crocus. Several small but extremely showy genera, such as 

 Aiiomatheca, Tigridia, and Ixia, are often of short duration in 

 flower, and are othenvise unfit either for the decoration of the 

 hardy border or rockwork, being either not hardy, except in a 

 few favoured localities, or so difficult to keep up in health with- 

 out having resort to very exceptional means, that they must be 

 classed as frame rather than border bulbs, taking the length 

 and breadth of the country into account. These, therefore, 

 will be passed over without further mention. 



Crocus. — A very familiar genus of spring and autumn flower- 

 ing-plants, adapted for planting in mixed borders, about open 

 woodland walks, on banks ; in fact, anywhere and everpvhere 

 that colour may be desirable in spring the early-flowering kinds 

 may be planted. Their culture is a very simple matter. They 

 succeed in nearly every kind of soil — best, however, in that which 

 is light and well drained and tolerably rich ; and they furnish 

 ample and unfailing means of propagation in the natural annual 

 increase of the bulbs. They require to be lifted periodically — 

 say every three or four years at furthest — after the leaves decay, 

 and replanted either immediately or at convenience before 

 October, the ground being well dug, and, if poor, enriched with 

 well-decayed dung or leaf-mould beforehand. They may be 

 planted 2 or 3 inches deep, and i inch or more apart, according to 



