44 RIVERSIDE LETTERS vi 



for I can safely say I know no tlower that 

 approaches this in individuality, sombre 

 majesty of colour, or dignity of form. 



It is called commonly " the mourning iris," 

 on account of its sombre grayish colour, a 

 gray to which it is quite impossible to give a 

 name ; the standards, as the upper leaves of 

 an iris are called, are large, round, and beau- 

 tifully laced with this dark gray ; Gerard 

 says, "like unto a guinea fowl's plumage,'' 

 but this is scarcely an accurate description. 

 These standards form a sort of arching canopy 

 over what I should call the working parts of 

 the flower, possibly protecting them from ex- 

 treme heat. The falls, or lower leaves, are 

 darker, the markings being closer, with an 

 almost black velvety spot in the centre, which 

 is surmounted by dark fur. The wing-like 

 covers to the entrance to the ovaries are also 

 of the darkest shade. The blooms are very 

 large and much more globose in shape than 

 the common German iris. I hope you will 

 forgive me for boring you thus about this 



