158 



THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



8. IRIDACE^: (Crocus tribe). 



The Iridaceae include the Crocus 

 (Crocus sativa), the Corn-flag 

 (Grladeolus communis), and the 

 Blue- flag (Iris Grermanica) ; the 

 bulb of the Iris Morentina, is 

 dried and used for various pur- 

 poses, it has a scent resembling 

 violets and is sold at druggists' 

 shops by the name of orris- 

 root, a corruption of iris-root. 



9. OECHIDACE.E (Orchids). 



Butterfly Orchis. 



The family of the Orchis. Dr. 

 Baird, in describing them, 

 says : They are almost all 

 herbaceous, a very few only 

 being somewhat shrubby in 

 their growth ; some live in the 

 ground, and besides the ordi- 

 nary roots have bulbs or starch- 

 bearing tubercles ; others are 

 what may be called pseudo- 

 parasites, living attached to the 

 bark of trees. These plants 

 abound in the forests of tropical 

 countries, where the climate is 

 moist, and are generally known 

 by the name of Epiphytes. 

 The flowers vary very much in 

 shape, form, and colour, and in 

 many instances have a striking 



