Iberbaceous plants. 361 



outer segments of the flowera are violet-Jbliie with darker 



o 



veins, the inner ones yellowish-brown. I. variegata, smaller 

 than the German iris but of a similar habit. The inner seg- 

 ments of the flower are of a bright claret color, the outer 

 and erect ones bright yellow with brownish veins. I. hy- 

 brida is another very desirable kind, with the outer segments, 

 white, veined and tipped with lilac-purple, inner ones white. 

 These are the most desirable border plants of the genus. 

 They may also be used in beds and rockeries with good 

 effect. I. pumila is a very dwarf, spring-flowering species 

 suitable for rockeries only; the flowers are deep blue or 

 violet-purple on very short peduncles six or eight inches 

 from the ground ; leaves very short and broad, sword-like. 



The following are best adapted for naturalizing on the 

 shores of ponds and streams in rather moist and rich soil. 

 Yellow flag (I. pseudoaeorus), leaves narrow, sword-shaped r 

 glaucous green ; flowers bright yellow, large and clustered ; 

 flowering stems two or three feet high. A very showy and 

 desirable plant flowering in spring or early summer. I. Ice- 

 vigata, Japanese iris, stem slender, tw r o feet high or less, 

 leaves narrow, sword-shaped, small in comparison with the 

 flow r ers, which measure five or six inches across and are of 

 many rich and beautiful colors, mostly shades of blue and 

 purple. This is one of the finest of all flags. American 

 water-flag (I. versicolo?*) is a common but very handsome 

 plant growing in or near shallow water. It grows about 

 two feet high and forms large masses of leaves. Flowers 

 purple-claret or purplish-blue veined with deep blue and 

 white. I. Siberica is of a tufted habit with very narrow 

 leaves ; flowers bright lilac-blue in great profusion in summer.. 



