62 THE BOOK OF THE IRIS 



p. 85 (illust.), see accompanying plate. The standards 

 of the later flowers are sometimes of peculiar shape as 

 shown. They are normally oblong. A lovely winter 

 flowering species with delightfully fragrant flowers of 

 considerable size. The tube is no less than 5 or 6 in. 

 long, the longest in the genus. The stem is very short, 

 and, as in some allies as well as in some bulbous Irises, 

 it is the tube alone which elevates the perianth above 

 the ground. The leaves, among which the flowers 

 shelter, are very persistent, ij to 2 ft. long or more and 

 J to f in. broad, of bright green colour. Typically the 

 flowers are bright lilac and have an expansion of about 

 3 in. ; the falls are obovate-cuneate an inch broad, 

 keeled with yellow, and at the throat are streaked with 

 lilac on a white ground ; the standards are f in. broad, 

 narrowed suddenly into the claw. An unusual point of 

 structure is found in the filaments which are sometimes 

 united to the top. The style is solid with the tube 

 proper, and this structure is usual, though in some 

 species in different sections the style is free, but without 

 affording, so far as I know, a character of much use 

 in classification. There are several forms distinguished 

 chiefly by colour. There are said to be two white 

 varieties and one of them is illustrated in The Garden, 

 March 28, 1896, p. 236. Other forms are the following: 



Feathered white on falls and to less extent 



on standards, leaves 2 to 3 ft. long . marginata 



Flowers large rich violet, deep purple on 

 blade of falls, leaves shorter than in 

 type, flowers well above . . . speciosa 



Flowers deep rich purple, leaves similar 



to those of type .... purpurea 



Flowers of delicate pale mauve, flowering 



later than type, in April . . . lilacea 



This is one of the most valuable of all Irises and its 

 culture is easy. Plant at foot of south wall in sheltered 



