174 COLONSAY 



0. maculata, L. Spotted Orchis. Urach Bhallach, C. 

 Common in meadows and pastures. June. 



0. ericetorum, Linton. Morag. One of the commonest 

 species. July. 



Habenaria, Willd. 



H. conopsea, Benth. Fragrant Orchis. Lus Taghta, C. 

 Ardskenish Glen and Balaromin-mor. July. 



H. albida, Br. One specimen, Balanahard hills. 



H. viridis, Br. Frog Orchis. Sandy ground, Balanahard 

 and Kiloran Bay. July. 



H. bifolia, Br. Butterfly Orchis. A sweet-smelling species, 

 not uncommon in moist meadows. July. 



H. virescens, Druce. Noted by Mr Somerville in Scalasaig 

 meadows, near the Post Office. 



IRIDACB.E (the Iris family) 



Perennial herbs, usually with an enlarged root-stock 

 bulbs, corins, or rhizomes, etc., numerously represented in 

 dry, sunny countries, as South Africa. The perfume, Essence 

 of Violets, is prepared from the roots of a species of Iris. 

 The order includes splendid flowering genera Iris, Gladiolus, 

 Crocus, etc. 



Iris, L. 



I. Pseud-acorus, L. Yellow Iris; Yellow Flag. Seileastair. 

 Abundant in wet situations. A grey dye is extracted, by 

 boiling, from the root. Writing-ink was also obtained from 

 it (with copperas). In dry situations the roots are some- 

 times eaten in winter by rabbits, which burrow after them 

 into the ground. Per., June. 



AMARYLLIDACE^; (the Amaryllis family) 



Bulbous herbs, found mostly in hot, sunny countries. The 

 "bulbs are stored up with the various forms of plant- food, which 



