80 



21. I. SINDJARENSIS. Boissier, Flor. Orient, v. p. 122. 

 (From Mount Sindjar, habitat.) 



Pig. Bot. Mag. t. 7145. 



Charact. Bulb very large, elongate, with fleshy roots. Stem 

 variable in height, sometimes a foot high. Leaves eight or ten, long, 

 and narrowing very gradually to a sharp point, bent into a double 

 channel, very striated on the outside, glossy green on the inside, 

 clasping by their bases the stem so as completely to hide it. Spathe- 

 valves narrow, pointed; as long as the tube. Flowers three or four, 

 two to four inches across. Fall with wings to the claw, a median 

 ridge, and somewhat narrow blade. Standards small, horizontal, 

 or turned down, spoon-shaped, with crenate edge. Crests of style 

 quadrangular, not very large. Blade of fall bluish white, with blue 

 veins. Median ridge and its surroundings yellow, with blue spots, and 

 beginnings of blue veins, which, more abundant on claw, give the latter 

 a blue colour. Standards and styles light blue. The whole flower is 

 blue in the centre, becoming paler at the periphery. Very distinctly 

 fragrant, odour resembling vanilla. 



Time. March. 



Hab. Mesopotamia, near the mountains Sindjar and Gebel 

 Taktak, and adjoining mountains. 



22. I. FUMOSA. Boissier and Haussk. Sched. 1865 ; Boissier, 

 Flor. Orient, v. p. 123. (From famosus, smoky.) 



Syn. Iris (Xiphion) Aucheri (Baker, Journ. of Bot. 1873, 

 p. 1010). 



Charact. Differs from I. sindjarensis in having shorter and rela- 

 tively broader leaves, in the stem bearing a larger number, often eight 

 to ten flowers, and in the colour of the flowers, which are greenish 

 yellow, with more or less of a smoky tint ; in many respects resembles 

 I. orchioides or I. caucasica. 



Time. April. 



Hab. Syria, in neighbourhood of Aleppo. 



23. I. STOCKSII. Baker, Gard. Chron. 1876, p. 723. (After 

 Dr. Stocks, Indian botanist.) 



Lit. Boissier, Fl. Orient, v. p. 123. 



Charact. Only known from dried plants. Leaves six or eight, 

 narrow, pointed, arched, with white margin. Stem short, bearing one 

 to three flowers, not unlike I. caucasica, but lilac or light purple, 

 though apparently varying in colour. 



Hab. Afghanistan, near Quettah ; Beloochistan. 



Time. Not flowered in this country ; probably winter-flowering. 



NOTE. I cannot but think that if the various plants described from 

 dried specimens were brought into cultivation, it would be found that 

 they really represent more than one species. 



