IRIDACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 332. 



IRIS. 



Perianth tubular, with a petaloid membranous limb ; the se- 

 paline segments revolute, often bearded, the petaline erect and 

 converging. Stamens 3, concealed beneath the lobes of the 

 style. Style 3-parted near the upper end, with petaloid seg- 

 ments, overarching the anthers, and bearing a two-lipped trans- 

 verse stigma below their ends. Capsule 3-celled, bursting 

 through the cells into 3 valves, coriaceous, with numerous flat 

 or round and fleshy seeds. 



1216. I. versicolor Linn. sp. pi. 57. Bot. mag. t. 21. Bige- 

 low med lot. i. t. 16. Swamps and wet meadows in the United 

 States. (Blue flag.) 



Rhizoma fleshy, horizontal. Stem 2 or 3 feet high, round on one 

 side, acute on the other, frequently branched, and bearing from 2 to 6 

 flowers. Leaves sword-shaped, striated, sheathing at base. Bracts 

 scarious. Peduncles of various lengths, flattened on the inside. Ovary 

 3-cornered, with flat sides, and obtuse angles. Sepals spathulate, beard- 

 less, the border purple, the claw variegated with green, yellow and 

 white, and veined with purple. Petals erect, varying in shape from 

 spathulate to lanceolate, usually paler than the outer, entire or emar- 

 ginate. Stigmas 3, petaloid, purple or violet, bifid, crenate, and more 

 or less reflexed at the point. Stamens concealed under the stigmas, 

 with oblong-linear anthers. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved ; when ripe, 

 oblong, turgid, 3-sided, with roundish angles. Seeds numerous, flat. 

 Rhizoma nauseous, and acrid ; it is an active cathartic, but is apt to 

 produce a distressing nausea like sea-sickness, with a prostration of 

 strength. Most useful as a diuretic. Bigelow. 



1217. I. Pseud-acorus Linn. sp. 56. E. Bot. t. 578. Woodv. 

 t. 40. Smith Eng. FL i. 49. Common in ditches and wet places 

 all over Europe. 



Rhizoma horizontal, depressed, brown, very astringent. Stem 3 or 

 4 feet high. Leaves erect, sword-shaped, ribbed, grass-green. Flowers 

 from 3 to 6, large, handsome, light yellow, beardless. Sepals pencilled 

 on the disk with dark purple. Petals smaller than the lobes of the 

 style. Seeds angular. The rhizoma is acrid and possesses purgative 

 and emetic properties. 



1218. I. florentina Zmw. sp.pl 55. Bot. Mag. t. 671. Fl. 

 grcec. t. 39. Southern parts of Europe and the islands of the 

 Mediterranean. 



Rhizoma horizontal, knotty, very fragrant. Stem 1-1^ foot high. 

 Leaves about a foot long, broad, somewhat falcate, but little waved at 

 575 



