IRIS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



IRIS. 



517 



in summer. Since the flowers come before 

 the leaves grow tall, it makes a good pot 

 plant, and a well-grown clump is a 

 charming addition to the Christmas table. 

 I. ROSENBACHIANA. A charming bul- 

 bous Iris, and found on the mountains of 

 E. Buchara, Turkestan, at an elevation of 

 6000 to 7000 feet, we are told, in two varie- 

 ties, both growing together, the flowers 

 of one form being blue, those of the other 

 of a fine violet, whilst the bulbs of both 

 the varieties are small, with thin tunics, 

 never reticulated as in the netted Iris. 



Iris persica. 



I. SARI. Derives its name from the 

 river Sar, in Cilicia, in the neighbourhood 

 of which it was found. It comes near to 

 /. susiana, having a compact rhizome, 

 relatively large foliage, a fairly tall (a foot 

 or less in height) stem and large flowers ; 

 indeed, the var. lurida, which Prof. Foster 

 mentions as the only one he has seen in 

 cultivation, is often mistaken by a casual 

 observer for /. susiana. 



I. SIBIRICA (Siberian Flag). A slender 

 plant, 2 or 3 feet high, with narrow grassy 

 leaves, and in summer somewhat small 

 showy blue flowers, beautifully veined 

 with white and violet. There are several 

 varieties, the white variety, also called 

 /. flexuosa t being pretty, and so is /. acuta, 

 but the double-flowered form is not. The 

 finest variety is /. orientalis, having larger 

 flowers of a deeper colour, with a different 

 veining, and the falls especially broad and 

 expanding. The Siberian Iris is very 

 hardy and spare plants are easily estab- 

 lished in ditches or damp spots. 



I. SINDJARENSIS. An interesting species 

 with the habit and general character of 

 /. caucasica, but having bluish flowers and 

 a distinct crest. It flowers, however, at 

 a time when no other Iris except /. reticu- 

 lata is in bloom, and possesses a certain 

 distinctive charm. 



I. STYLOSA (Algerian Iris). A beautiful 

 plant, flowering in mid-winter, its flowers 

 hidden in grassy foliage. When mixed 

 with even the most delicate flowers of the 

 stove or Orchid-house, its silky sky-blue 

 fragrant flowers possess a charm and soft- 

 ness equalled by scarcely any other flower 

 of the same colour. Although hardy, its 

 flowers are so delicate that it should have 

 protection from heavy rains unless the 

 position is well sheltered. There are 

 several varieties in catalogues, speciosa 

 being one of the best, this having larger 

 flowers of a deep blue colour. Syn. /. 

 unguicularis . They all thrive best on 

 very light warm soil on well-drained 

 borders in sheltered gardens. Division. 



I. SUSIANA (Mourning Iris). One of the 

 most singular of all flowers, from i| to 

 2^ feet high ; the flowers very large and 

 densely spotted and striped with dark 

 purple on a grey ground. It should be 

 grown in sunny nooks in the rock garden, 

 or on sheltered banks or borders, but 

 always in light, warm, or chalky soils. I 

 have seen it flowering well in a border in 

 the Archbishop of Canterbury's garden 

 near Broadstairs, where it is hardy. Asia 

 Minor. Division. 



Iris reticulata. 



I. TUBEROSA (Snake's-head). This is an 

 interesting if quiet-coloured kind, 12 or 

 13 inches high, the flowers small, brownish- 

 green marked with yellow, and a purplish- 

 brown tinge on the upper part. There 

 are usually two tubers. It is not showy 

 enough for every garden, but where 

 admired it may be naturalised in light 

 soil. S. Europe. 



