194 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Iris continued. 



tents. The seeds germinate the following spring, and 

 bulbs, sufficiently large for flowering, may be expected 

 after three years' growth. Quantities of offsets may also 

 be utilised for propagating purposes ; but care should be 

 taken not to injure the old bulb in removing them, or 

 allow it to be kept too long exposed to the air. The 

 rhizomatous section may be propagated by division ; or by 

 layering, if roots are not readily emitted in the ordinary 

 way. 



Cultivation. The bulbous section, or Xiphions, are 

 principally represented in gardens by what are known 

 as English and Spanish Iris. Both are of Spanish origin, 

 and vary chiefly in the size of the bulbs and flowers, 

 and in the more curious combination of colours, as ex- 

 hibited in the flowers of the former. I. filifolia, I. Histrio, 

 I. persica, and I. reticulata, are very beautiful, and early 

 flowering species, also of this section. They all succeed 

 best in a light, rich, sandy soil, and in a situation fully 

 exposed to sun, yet protected, if possible, from easterly 

 or other strong winds. Efficient drainage in autumn and 

 winter are important conditions, and the bulbs should 

 not be removed from the soil more than is really necessary. 

 Bulbous Iris are most attractive when planted in masses. 



Of the rhizomatous species there are large numbers, 

 which may be grouped according as their cultivation 

 requires. The bearded, more commonly called the German 

 Irises, comprise a number of varieties, having large and 

 very handsome flowers ; and, as they are among the easiest 

 to cultivate, they are largely grown. Their rhizomes (see 



Fio. 324. SURFACE RHIZOMES OF GERMAN IRIS. 



Fig. 324) are formed on the top of the ground, and should 

 not be covered with soil, or they will be liable to rot in 

 winter. Dwarf-growing species, like alata, aphylla, biflora, 

 Chamceirie and its varieties, pumila with its varieties, and 

 rubro-marginata, should be provided with a sunny posi- 

 tion on a rockery, and be planted in light, rich soil. 

 flavescens, florentina, germanica, lutescens, sambucina, 

 and squalens, are a few of the stronger-growing bearded 

 Iris, that are not so particular regarding the soil or 

 situation wherein they are planted. 



The beardless Irises comprise a large group, and their 

 cultivation varies considerably with different species. 

 Some do best in heavy loam, others in peat and loam, 

 and others again in nearly all peat, formed into a sort 

 of semi-bog, by the insertion of Sin. of clay beneath it. 

 Some of the species which succeed with this latter pre- 

 paration are : fulva, hexqgona, Icevigata, pseudacorus, 

 setosa, sibirica and its varieties, and versicolor virginica. 

 Examples of beardless Iris which succeed in loam, or loam 

 and peat, are : aurea, graminea, Guldenstadtiana, humilis, 

 Monnieri, ochroleuca, and spuria. 



I. iberica and I. susiana are two of the most singular 

 and beautiful species, belonging to a separate group or 



Iris continued. 



sub-genus. They are amongst the most difficult of plants 

 to flower, and require special treatment, apart from any 

 of the others. A frame, and light, rich soil, should be 

 provided for their accommodation, and they should be 

 dried off, and allowed the fullest exposure to the sun 

 from the time flowering is over, until spring of the 

 following year. Plenty of river sand round the rhizomes 

 tends to keep them dry in winter an important point 

 in the cultivation and also assists in effecting perfect 

 drainage at all times. All varieties of Iris are impatient 

 of root disturbance, their flowering being much hindered 

 thereby. Plants that are established increase in size 

 rapidly, and flower with much more certainty if allowed 

 to remain undisturbed. They like plenty of sun and 

 air, but should be protected, if practicable, from east 

 and northerly winds. 



In the subjoined list, the Synopsis of Mr. J. G. Baker, 

 which appeared in the columns of the Gardeners' Chronicle, 

 has been followed. 



Sect. I. Irises proper. 



I. amcena (pleasing). A synonym of /. hybrida. 



I. aphylla (leafless), ft. scentless ; limb dark lilac, 2iin. deep ; 

 falls obovate, iin. to Jin. broad, reflexing half-way down, cune- 

 ately narrowed to a long claw ; beard white ; standards erect, a 

 little broader than the falls, suddenly narrowed into a long claw ; 

 claws white, veined with lilac. May. I. not more than two pro- 

 duced to a tuft, glaucous-green, ensifonn, falcate. Stems forked 

 low down, or two or even three produced from the same tuft. 

 h. 1ft. Eastern Europe and Western Asia. (B. M. 2361 ; B. R. 

 801, under name of /. furcata.) 



I. arenaria (sand-loving), fl. bright yellow, striped with purplish- 

 brown on the claws ; falls oblong-spathulate, with a bright yellow 

 beard reaching half-way up; standards rather shorter, and narrow; 

 scape slender, erect, one or two-flowered. May. I. tufted, few, 

 linear. Rhizome much-branched, h. Sin. to 4in. Hungary to 

 European Russia, 1802. This plant is well adapted for rockery 

 or pot culture, but is not common in English gardens. (B. R. 549.) 



I. aurea (golden).* ft. bright yellow ; falls oblong, crisped at the 

 edge ; standards oblanceolate, shorter than the falls. June. 

 I. ensifonn, about 2ft. long. Stem stout, bearing two sessile 

 clusters of flowers, h. 3ft. to 4ft. Western Himalayas. (B. R. 

 xxxiii.59.) 



I. balkana (Balkan).* ft. bright lilac-purple ; tube liin. long ; 

 limb Sin. long; falls IJin., and standards liin. broad; spathe 

 valves green, acute. April. Stem as long as the leaves, h. 1ft. 

 Northern Thrace, 1878. Mr. Baker regards this as a variety of 

 /. Chamceiris; it is a very fine plant. 



I. biflora (two-flowered).* fl. bright violet-purple ; limb 2in. to 

 2Jin. deep ; falls obovate, Iin. broad, reflexing half-way down, 

 the yellow beard over Iin. 1. 

 spathe two-flowered. Aj 



Rhizome stout, short-creeping. South Europe, 1596. SYNS. 

 /. frayrans, I. nudicaulis (under which name it is figured in 

 B. M. 15806), /. subbtftora. 



I. biglumis (two-plumed). A synonym of I. ensata. 



I. Bloudovii (Bloudow's). fl. light yellow ; limb almost ,2m. long ; 

 outer segments obovate-cuneate, nearly or quite Iin. broad, 

 reflexing half-way down, the bright yellow beard running more 

 than half-way up; standards erect, as broad as the falls, but 

 somewhat shorter ; spathe two-flowered. May. I. linear, thin. 

 A. 6in. to 12m. Altai Mountains. (R. G. 1020.) 



I. brachycuspis (short-pointed). A synonym of /. setosa. 



I. Chamaeiris (dwarf Iris).* fl. solitary ; limb 2in. deep ; falls 

 oblong-spathulate, Jin. broad, bright yellow, tinged and veined 

 with brown ; beard bright orange-yellow ; standards erect or con- 

 verging, oblong-unguiculate, Iin. broad, crisped at the edge, 

 primrose-yellow. April. I. four to six in a tuft, Iin. to iin. 

 broad, pale green, h. 4in. to 6in. South Europe. 



I. C. olbiensis (Olban). fl., limb deep lilac-purple, 2in. long; 

 falls Iin. broad ; claw white, veined with purple ; beard white, 

 tipped with yellow ; standards obovate-unguiculate, a little 

 broader than the falls. April. Stem 4in. to 6in. long, clasped by 

 a sheathing leaf a little above the base. South of France. (B. M. 

 6110.) 



I. T<nATiaia (Chinese). A synonym of /. japonica. 



I. cretensis (Cretan).* fl., limb lilac, 2in. deep; falls obovate- 

 unguiculate, beardless, fin. broad ; the reflexing lamina much 

 shorter than the narrow claw ; standards oblanceolate - un- 

 jruiculate, Jin. broad. April and May. I. in dense tufts, narrow- 

 linear, erect, firm, and stout in texture, acuminate, closely and 

 distinctly,- ribbed. Stem none, so that the spathe is sessile in the 

 centre of the cluster of leaves. Greece, Asia Minor, Crete, and 

 the Ionian Islands. (B. M. 6343.) 



1. cristata (crested).* fl., limb pale lilac, about iin. deep; falls 

 with an ohovate-nhtuse reflexing blade, iin. broad, the throat aid 



long ; standards erect, over Iin. broad ; 

 ipril. I. ensiform, rather glaucous. 



