162 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 
of Turkey, and has long been popularly known as the 
Turkish Flower-de-Luce. It is one of the oldest plants 
of the English gardens, and was described by Gerard in 
1629 as follows :—‘‘The greate Turkie Flower-de-Luce 
hath divers heads of long and broad fresh greene leaves, 
yet not so broad as many of those that follow, one folded 
within another at the bottome, as all other of the Flower- 
de-Luces are; from the middle of some of these heads 
(for every head of leaves beareth not a flower) riseth up a 
round, stiffe stalke, two foote high, at the top wherof 
standeth one flower (for I never observed it to beare two), 
the largest almost, but rarest of all the rest, consisting of 
nine leaves, like the others that follow, but of the colour 
almost of a snake’s skinne, it is so diversely spotted ; for 
the three lower falling leaves are very large, of a deepe, 
or dark purple colour, almost blacke, full of grayish 
spots, strakes and lines through the whole leaves, with a 
black thrume or freeze in the middle of each of them ; 
the three arched leaves that cover them are of the same 
dark purple colour, yet a little paler at the sides; the 
three upper leaves are very large, also, and of the same 
colour with the lower leaves, but a little more lively and 
fresh, being speckled and straked with whiter spots and 
lines; which leaves being laid in water will color the 
water a violet colour; but if a little alume be put therin, 
and then wrung or pressed and the juice of these leaves 
dryed in the shadow, will give a colour almost as deep 
as Indigo, and may serve as shadows in limming excel- 
lent well; the flower hath no scent that can be perceived, 
but is only commendable for the beauty and variety 
therof ; it seldome beareth seedes in these cold countries, 
but when it doth it is contained in greate heads, being 
brownish and round, but not so flat as the other sorts ; 
the roots are more browne on the outside, and growing 
tuberous thicke, as all others that are kept in gardens.” 
While this is one of the most magnificent species of 
the Iris, it is a little difficult to manage in our gardens; 
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