in.] ENGLISH AND SPANISH 145 



extended season of their blooming from Christmas to 

 August is taken into account, it must be admitted that 

 no collection of hardy plants can be considered complete 

 that does not include some sections, at least, of this family. 



A striking characteristic of the Iris is that the three 

 outer segments of their flowers are reflexed or drooping, 

 while the three inner are erect. 



The Iris includes a large number of species of various 

 habits and character, all beautiful, some brilliant. 



There are two clearly distinguished groups (a) 

 Bulbous, which are now called Xiphions, and the larger 

 class (b) Rhizomatous, or those with creeping stems. 



The hardier Bulbous Irises include the English 

 (Xiphioides) and Spanish (Xiphiuni). The English Iris 

 comes originally from the Pyrenees. It was the Dutch, 

 who, having bought it first in England a couple of 

 centuries ago, miscalled it the English Iris, and one of 

 their professors of Botany at Leiden Clusius, a great 

 plant collector and author actually came to England 

 to try and find it in its native haunts! 



The Spanish Iris is smaller, earlier, much more 

 variable, and thrives in drier and more barren spots 

 than the so-called English bulb, which likes a damp 

 border, and will soon die out on warm dry soils. 



The Spanish are each year becoming more popular ; 

 they embrace lovely shades and combinations of yellow, 

 white, blue, citron, orange, and lilac. 



/. Persica (Xiphium Persicuni) comes, of course, from 



K 



