11 



each armed with a horny tip, but in the form of the flower, and 

 especially in the narrow claw of the fall expanding into an oval 

 blade, it is very distinct ; moreover, it is unique (in the group) 

 in habit, since it flowers in late autumn or early winter, the 

 blooms often appearing in October. This habit, however, makes 

 it difficult to cultivate in this country ; and since the colour, a 

 slaty blue, has no great merit, the plant is of botanical rather than 

 gardening interest, and I need say no more about it. I have 

 called it I. Vartani. 



Of great gardening value, however, is another species of the 

 group, 7. Bakeriana (figs. 9 and 10), growing in the mountains 



FIG. 9. IRIS BAKERIANA 

 (reduced one-fourth). 



FIG. 10. IRIS BAKERIANA (a rather 

 small specimen). 



above Mardin, on the confines of Armenia and Mesopotamia. 

 This was brought to my knowledge by the Rev. Mr. Gates, of 

 Mardin, and Mr. Max Leichtlin secured a large supply of it, and 

 so introduced it into our gardens. It has bulbs with netted coats, 

 and the flower closely resembles that of reticulata, differing 

 chiefly in colour, the distinctive feature being that the deep 

 violet blade of the fall bears a central patch of creamy white or 

 yellow, sprinkled with dots or crossed with veins. Curiously 

 enough, the leaves are not four-sided, but eight-sided, or rather 



