338 



CXXXVI. IRIDE^ (baker). 



[Mo 



1. MOR^A, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, iii. 688. 



Perianth-tube obsolete ; outer segments obovate-unguiculate, spread- 

 ing from about the middle ; inner erect, generally narrower. Stamens 

 inserted at the base of the outer segments of the perianth opposite the 

 branches of the style ; tilaments filiform, generally united at the base ; 

 anthers linear, basifixed. Ovary cylindric-trigonous, 3 -celled ; ovules 

 many in a cell ; style-branches petaloid, with two lanceolate or deltoid 

 petaloid crests ; stigma at the base of the crests. Capsule oblong- 

 trigonous. Seeds globose. — Rootstock usually a corm, rarely a rhizome. 

 Leaves linear or ensiform, few or many. Stem simple or branched. 

 Outer spathe-valves firm, green. Flowers 2 or more in each spathe, 

 various in colour, often fugacious. 



Species 60, the others South African, with only one in Australia. 



*EuM0RiEA. Rootstock a tunicated corm. 



**DiETES. Rootstock a rhizome. 

 The only species 



. 16. M. iridioides. 



1. M. gracilis, Baker in Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Bot. i. 272. 

 Corms globose, tufted, |-| in. diam. ; outer tunics fine, brown, fibrous, 

 produced above the neck. Produced leaves 2, terete, basal, erect, 

 very slender, shorter than the stem. Stem slender, simple, 8-15 in. 

 long, with a rudimentary leaf from above the middle. Spathe cylin- 

 drical, 2-2 J in. long; outer valve much shorter than the inner. 

 Perianth yellow, fugacious, under 1 in. long ; inner segments but little 



