THE YELLOW IRIS. 59 



as may be clearly seen in our plate, from a large sheathing 

 bract, or floral leaf, and are divided into nine conspicuous 

 portions viz., the three outer segments of the perianth, 

 which, from their size and reflex growth, form the most 

 noticeable feature; then, alternating with these, the three 

 much smaller and upright-growing inner segments ; while 

 over the threo larger portions of the perianth we find a 

 third series of forms, the three petaloid stigmas covering 

 the stamens. The construction of the blossom is alto- 

 gether very interesting, and will well repay careful in- 

 vestigation and dissection into its component parts. The 

 same general idea, if we may use the expression, runs 

 through the building up of the flowers of the various 

 species of garden iris the Iris Persica, with its delicious 

 scent; the snakeVhead iris (/. tuberosa), the Chalcedonian 

 iris (/. Susiana) , and many other equally well-known and 

 esteemed species, though various modifications of size and 

 form will be found, in some flowers one ring of parts being 

 more especially striking and conspicuous, in others another. 

 Though the yellow iris in a wild state is always found 

 either rising from the bed of the shallow stream, or 

 amongst the vegetation that fringes its banks, such close 

 contact with the water does not seem absolutely needful, 

 judging by the healthy vigour of a plant in our own garden, 

 that is flourishing many yards from the banks of the Kennet, 

 and seems in all respects as much at home as those that 

 in rich profusion blossom by the side of the stream. If 

 the plant could bear a still further removal from the neigh- 

 bourhood of the water, and thrive equally well in an 

 ordinary flower-border, it would form a very desirable 

 acquisition, and would be fully entitled to rank in esteem 

 with the lily of the valley, the wallflower, and the fox- 



