CHAPTER XVI 

 Gynandiris. 



(Bulbous Irises with stamens adhering to style branches.) 



One species only . . . 137. I. SISYRINCHIUM 

 Flowers, much spotted ; anthers 



for the most part free . var. MARICOIDES 



Flowers, small and dull coloured, 



one leaf only . . . var. MONOPHYLLA 

 Flowers, exceedingly small, leaf 



attaining 3 ft. or more in 



length .... var. SICULA 



137. I. Sisyrinchium, L. ; Red. LU., 29; Foster in 

 Bulbous Irises, figs. I, 2 and 32, pp. 2, 3 and 55 ; Moraea 

 Sisyrinchium, Ker, in Bot. Mag., t. 1407, M. Tenoreana, 

 Sweet, Brit. Fl. Gard., t. Iio; Xiphion Sisyrinchium, 

 Baker, in Bot. Mag., t. 6096 (see accompanying plate). 

 The " Spanish nut " and the " Barbary nut " of Parkinson. 



Sir Michael Foster regards this as probably one of the 

 oldest Irises in existence, retaining the archaic features of 

 the stock from which many other Irises have descended, 

 and in this respect it is therefore one of the most interesting 

 of all. It is exceedingly variable, and usually difficult to 

 keep, but some bulbs I collected on a hill above Genoa 

 have formed a clump which, after ten years, continues 

 in perfect vigour. While some forms are not worth 

 growing, mine is exceedingly charming. The variations 

 are from light blue to reddish purple, with variable spots 

 and veins on the blade of fall, which usually has a 



