500 IRIDACE.E. (IRIS FAMILY.) 



variegated with white, yellow, and purple, the inflated tube shorter than the 

 obtusely 3-angled ovary ; lips of the stigmas entire or slightly crenate ; capsule 

 oblong, .obtusely 3-angled. Wet places. April-May. Stem l|-2 high 

 Lowest leaves li-2 long, 1'- !' wide. Perianth 2' long. 



2. I. Caroliniana, Watson. Stem slender, 2 high ; leaves thin, bright 

 green ; flowers in pairs ; perianth lilac, veined with purple, the tube shorter 

 than the ovary; capsule oblong, round-angled; seeds large (4"- 5" broad), in 

 a single row in each cell. Wilmington, North Carolina (Watson). Leaves 

 3 long. Perianth 3' long. 



3. I. hexagona, Walt. Stem terete, simple ; leaves linear-sword-shaped ; 

 flowers axillary and terminal, solitary, crested ; perianth deep blue, variegated 

 with white, yellow, and purple ; the cylindrical angular tube longer than the 

 6-angled ovary ; stigmas much longer than the anthers, the large lips toothed ; 

 capsule oblong-cylindrical, 6-angled. Swamps, Florida to South Carolina, 

 near the coast. April. Stem 2 -3 high. Lowest leaves 2 -3 long. 

 Flowers 4' long. 



4. I. cuprea, Pursh. Stem simple, furrowed and 1 -angled below; leaves 

 linear-sword-shaped ; flowers axillary and terminal, single or by pairs, crest- 

 less, dull yellow ; tube of the perianth somewhat inflated, as long as the 6- 

 angled ovary ; stigmas scarcely longer than the anthers, the lips nearly 

 entire ; capsule tumid, 6-angled. Swamps in the lower districts of Georgia 

 (Elliott), and westward. April -May. Stem 3 high. Leaves 2 long. 

 Flowers 2' long. 



5. I. tripetala, Walt. Stem terete, simple, or with peduncle-like 

 branches ; leaves rather short, sword-shaped, glaucous ; flowers terminal, 

 solitary, crestless, blue, variegated with yellow and purple ; inner divisions of 

 the perianth very short, wedge-shaped ; stigmas toothed ; capsule oval, 3- 

 angled. Pine barren swamps, Florida to North Carolina. June -July. 

 Stem 1 - 2 high. Leaves 1 long. Flowers 2' - 3' long. 



6. I. Virginica, L. Stem slender, simple ; leaves elongated, grass-like ; 

 flowers 2-6, terminal, on a long and slender peduncle, crestless, blue and 

 white ; ovary 3-angled, 2-fnrrowed on the sides, much longer than the very 

 short tube of the perianth ; capsule 3-angled, acute at each end. Swamps, 

 North Carolina to Tennessee. June. Stem and lower leaves 2 long. 

 Flowers 1^' long. 



* * Stems low, icilh sheath-like haves: divisions of the perianth nearly equal. 



"!. I. verna, L. Stem very short, concealed by the short spathe-like 

 leaves, 1 -flowered ; proper leaves linear-sword-shaped, glaucous; perianth pale 

 blue, crestless, the divisions about as long as the filiform partly concealed 

 tube; capsule 3-angled. Pine barrens of the middle districts, mostly in dry 

 soil, Alabama to North Carolina. April. Leaves 5' -8' long. Limb of the 

 perianth 1' long. 



8. I. cristata, Ait. Stem 1 -3-flowered ; leaves lanceolate (3' -5' long) ; 

 outer divisions of the perianth crested, much shorter than the filiform tube ; 

 capsule acutely 3-angled ; otherwise like the preceding. Mountains of Geor- 

 gia and North Carolina. May. 



