82 THE BOOK OF THE IRIS 



about four leaves much overtopping the flowers. Grow- 

 ing at Kew it seems to be quite distinct. It is described 

 as having falls 2 in. long, rich purple with blue shading 

 to white and a marking of yellow down the claw. The 

 styles are light green. It is said to be native of 

 Arkansas and to be hardy. 



30. I. foetidissima, Linn. ; Eng. Bot., t. 596 ; Red. 

 Lit., t. 354; Reich. Ic. Germ., t. 347, Fl. Germ., fig. 

 975. Roast-beef plant, Gladwyn. The scent of the 

 broken leaves, which has been compared to roast beef, 

 boiled milk, and wet starch, is sufficient to distinguish 

 this plant from all others. It has a stout, shortly creep- 

 ing rhizome, the sheaths fibrous. The leaves are deep 

 green, but slightly glaucous, ij to 2 ft. long, f to I in. 

 broad. The stem is compressed, 2 to 3 ft. long, bearing 

 2 to 3 reduced leaves and 2 to 3 heads ; spathes, 2 to 3 

 flowered, 3 in. long, the outer valves lanceolate, green ; 

 pedicels long. The perianth-tube is greenish, funnel- 

 shaped, J in. long ; limb, ij to 2 in. long; the falls in 

 the type are pale purplish blue with purple lines ; petals 

 lined with slaty blue ; crests deltoid. The seeds are 

 globose and have a fleshy orange testa, which shrivels 

 on drying and becomes dark red. 



A variety, citrina, is recognised in English botany, 

 and has flowers wholly pale lemon yellow, without 

 purple lines. It occurs in the Isle of Wight and in 

 Dorset. The type is not uncommon in the south of 

 England ; it is rare in Ireland and introduced only in 

 Scotland. The species is distributed through Central 

 and Southern Europe. 



Usually grows in shade, is not ornamental in flower, 

 but highly so in the open pods, showing the brilliantly 

 coloured seeds. Culture is quite easy, but the plant is 

 not a fast grower. There is a variegated leaved variety. 



31. I. spuria, Linn. ; Bot. Mag., t. 58; Reich, FL 

 Germ., fig. 772. A common species in botanic gardens, 



