521 



Herbs, rarely undershrubs, with rhizomes or underground conns, 

 having their leaves often equitant or distichous, and their flowers 

 spathaceous. Natives chiefly of warm and temperate regions. They 

 abound at the Cape of Good Hope. There are 53 known genera, and 

 550 species. Examples Iris, Sisyrinchium, Witsenia, Gladiolus, 

 Ixia, Crocus. 



1066. Some of the plants have fragrant and stimulant, and some 

 acrid, rhizomes and conns ; others yield dyes. The root-stock of Iris 

 Florentine yields orris-root, which has a pleasant odour like violets, 

 and an acrid taste, depending on the presence of a volatile oil. It is 

 imported from Florence and Leghorn. Orris-root is used chiefly for 

 giving a pleasant odour to the breath, and in perfumery and tooth- 

 powder. Orris-root starch is used for hair powder. Crocus sativus, the 

 cro of the Old Testament, furnishes the colouring material called 



Saffron. It consists of the stigmata, which have a fine deep-orange 

 colour. These stigmata are either dried in the loose state, forming Hay 

 Saffron, or compressed into masses, constituting Cake Saffron. The 

 yellow colouring ingredient is Polychroite. Saffron contains an active 



Figs. 745-747. Organs of fructification of Iris Germanica, to illustrate the natural order 

 Iridacese. 



Fig. 745. Diagram of the flower, showing six divisions of the perianth in two verticils, three 

 extrorse stamens, and the 3-celled capsule with numerous ovules. , Position of the axis of 

 inflorescence. 



Fig. 746. Vertical section of the flower, ct, Outer divisions of the coloured perianth, 

 ci, Inner divisions of the perianth, t, Tube of the perianth, above the part which is adherent 

 to the ovary, o, Inferior 3-celled ovary, g, Numerous anatropal ovules, ee, Stamens, ti, 

 Petaloid stigmas. 



Fig. 747. Seed separated and cut longitudinally, t, Integuments (spermoderm). p, Peri- 

 sperm, e, Embryo enclosed in the perisperm. m, Micropyle (foramen). 



