IRIDE^E. 353 



licidal dehiscence. Seeds numerous ; embryo cylindrical ; 

 enclosed within a fleshy or horny albumen ; radicle pointing 

 to the hilum. 



Herbs, rarely undershrubs. Leaves equitant, distichous. 

 Flowers with spataceous bracts. * - 



1. IRIS. Linn. 



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. 



Triandria. Monogynia. 



1. /. vcrsicolor Linn. : stem terete, more or less flexuous ; leaves 

 ensiform ; perianth beardless ; germ somewhat triangular. 



a, sulcata Torr. : stem slightly compressed ; inner segments of the 

 perianth longer than the stigmas ; germ with the angles sul- 

 cate, the sides concave ; capsule, oblong, ventricose ; angles 

 indistinctly furrowed. 



b. communis Torr. : stem erect, distinctly flexuous ; leaves narrow- 

 ensiform ; inner segments of the perianth a little shorter than 

 the stigmas ; angles of the germ not grooved when young ; 

 side deeply concave ; capsule cylindrical-oblong. 



HAB. Margins of ponds. Can. to Car, If. Root large, fleshy, 

 creeping. Stem 23 feet high. Flowers 26, blue, variegated 

 with green and yellow. Blue Flag. 



2. /. prismatica Pursh : stem round ; leaves linear, long j perianth 

 beardless ; germs triangular, twice grooved on the sides. L. virginica 

 Torr. not of Linn. .'" \ 



HAB. Wet meadows. N. S. June. If. Root fleshy, creep- 

 ing. Stem 1 2 feet high, round, smooth. Leaves 1-2 an inch 

 broad, very long and erect, Flowers 2 6 in a terminal raceme, 

 purple and yellow. Germs with 2 parallel grooves oji each 

 side. Very abundant in New-Jersey. 



3. /. lacustris Nutt. ,- leaves ensiform, shorter than the 1-flowered 

 scape; perianth without a bearded crest; segments nearly equal, at- 

 tenuated on the tube ; capsule turbinate, 3-sided, margined ; root tu- 

 berous. 



HAB. Gravelly shores of Lake Huron, Nutt. June. 2.Root 

 creeping. Scape compressed, scarcely an inch long. Leaves 

 35 inches long and 1-4 of an inch broad. Torr. . 



2. SISYRINCHIUM. Linn. 



Spathe 2-leaved. Perianth 6-cleft, flat, equal. Stamens 

 cohering below. Stigma 3-cleft. Triandria. Monogynia. 



1. & mucronatum Mich. : scape simple, winged ; spathe coloured ; 

 one of the valves ending in a long rigid point. 



HAB. Wet meadows. N. Y. to Vir. July. U.Stem 610 

 inches high, setaceous. Flowers 3 or 4 in each spathe, blue. 

 30* 



