IRIDACI5.E. 353 



large, terminal. Segments of the perianth yellowish-green, spotted with purple 

 Up purple, veined. Stemless Ladies' Slipper. 



6. C. arielinum Brmcn: stem leafy; upper segment of the perianth 

 ovate-lanceolate, the rest linear ; lip as long as the segments, acute, conic 

 below ; sterile stamen orbicular-spatulate. Cryosanthes borecdis Raf. Arieti- 

 num, Americanum Beck Dot. 1st. Ed. 



Sphagnous swamps. Montreal, Can. Hallowell, Maine. Fairhaven, Ver. 

 Oneida and Montgomery counties, N. Y. ; rare. '4- Stem 6 8 inches high, 

 with a few alternate lanceolate leaves. Flower solitary, much smaller than in 

 any of the preceding species. Segments of the perianth greenish-brown ; lip 

 small, red and white, reticulated, the lower part ending in a conical point or 

 short obtuse spur. Ram's Head. 



ORDER CXXYI. IRIDACE^E. IRIDS. 



Perianth with the limb 6-parted, in a double series, sometimes 

 irregular, the 3 inner segments being occasionally very short. 

 Stamens 3, from the base of the sepals ; filaments distinct or 

 connate. Ovary 3-celled ; style single ; stigmas 3, often dilated 

 and petaloid. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, loculicidal. Seeds 

 Avith hard albumen. Mostly herbaceous plants, with tuberous 

 or fibrous roots. Leaves equitant. Flowers spathaceous, usu- 

 ally large and showy. 



1. IRIS. Linn. Iris. Flower de Luce. 

 (So named from the varied hues of the flowers.) 

 Perianth 6 -cleft ; 3 of the segments larger and reflexed, the 

 others erect. Stamens distinct. Style short or none. Stigmas 

 3, petaloid, covering the stamens. 



1. /. versicolor Linn.: stem terete or slightly compressed, more or less 

 flexuous ; leaves ensiform ; perianth beardless ; ovary obtusely triangular, 

 with the sides flat ; capsule oblong, turgid, with rounded angles. /. Vir- 

 ginica Pursh, not of Linn. 



Margins of ponds. Can. to Car. W. to Miss. May, June. 1J-. Root large, 

 fleshy, creeping. Stem 2 3 feet high, rarely branched. Flowers 2 6 at the 

 summit of the stem, blue variegated with green and yellow. Blue Flag. 



2. /. Virginica Linn. : stem round, slender, smooth ; leaves narrow- 

 linear, long ; perianth beardless ; ovary 3-sided, each side twice grooved ; 

 capsule triangular, acute at each end. (Tbrr.) I.prismatica Pursh. I. gra- 

 cilis Big. 



Wet meadows. N. Y. to Virg. June 1l~ Root tuberous, creeping. Stem 

 1 2 feet high, a little flexuous, round. Flowers 2 6 at the summit of the stem, 

 blue and yellow, more delicate than in the preceding Very common in the 

 vicinity of New Brunswick. N. J. Slender Blue Flag. 



3. I. lacustris Nutt. : leaves ensiform, shorter than the 1-flowered scape ; 

 perianth without a bearded crest ; segments nearly equal, attenuated or 

 the tube; capsule turbinate, 3-sided, margined. 



