IRIS FAMILY. 419 



I. pumila, Jjinn. Dwarf Garden Iris. Stem very short (4 '-6' high); 

 the violet and purple tiower close to the ground, with slender tube and 

 obovate divisions hardly exceeding the short sword-shaped leaves. Eu. 



§ 2. XiPHiON ; the roots bulbous, giving rise to a single stem. 



* Leaves at flowering time only 2' or 3' long. 



I. Persica, Linn. Persian Iris. A clioice tender plant, dwarf, nearly 

 stemless, the tiower on a long tube, earlier than the leaves, delicately fra- 

 grant, bluish, with a deep-purple spot at the tip of the outer divisions, 

 the inner divisions very small and spreading. 



* * Leaves afoot or more long atfloicering time. 



+- Flower with a prominent tube (2'-3' long). 



I. reticulata, Bieb. From Persia ; stem a foot or so high, the leaves 

 equaling the Howers and finally .surpassing them ; flower one, rather large 

 with narrow divisions, violet-purple, the limb spotted with violet and 

 streaked with yellow ; flowers very early ; leaves generally 2 together. 



+- -^ Flower with scarcely any tube. 



I. Xipbium, Linn. (L vulgXris of gardeners). Spanish I. Leaves 4-6 

 on the stem, remaining green during winter ; the stem l°-2- high and 

 sometimes 2-flowered ; flowers 3'-5' across, the outer divisions orbicular 

 and reflexed, the inner ones erect, all purple and veiny ; spathes 3'-4' 

 long, not inflated. Flowers coriander-scented. Spain. 



/. xiphioldes, Ehrh. (L Anhlica.) S. Ku.; 3 or 4 leaves on the stem 

 and about (3 at its base, larger than in the last and not persi-sting during 

 winter ; plant \^-l° high, 2-3-flowered ; flowers large, lilac-purple, more 

 or less marked with yellow and feathered with white on the face of the 

 round-oblong outer divisions ; tubers larger and rounder than in the last ; 

 spathe 3'-4' long, inflated. Flowers scentless, later tlian the last. 



2. TIGRIDIA, TIGER FLOWER (as the name denotes). Flowers 

 summer. 



T. Pavbnia, Ker. From Mexico, the principal species, with several 

 varieties, planted out for summer flowering, sends up a stem 2° high, 

 bearing in succession a few very large showy flowers 5' or 6' across, 

 purple or orange-red, the dark center gaudily spotted with crimson or 

 purple. T. coNcniFLcbRA of gardens is a form with bright yellow flowers. 

 T. grandifl6ra is a form with very large, bright orange-red flowers. 



3. SISYRINCHIUM, RLUE-EYED GRASS. (Greek: hag's snout, 

 the application not apparent.) Flowers all summer. 



S. angustifdlium. Mill. Scape 4'-12' high, simple, with a solitary 

 terminal spathe, the outer bi-act more or less elongated ; flowers blue 

 (rarely white) changing to purple, the divisions notched or jagged and 

 bristle-pointed ; seeds large and globose, nearly smooth. Grassy plants, 

 growing in little clumps or tufts ; common. 



S. ^nceps, Cav. Usually taller and branching, the .'^pathes 2 or more ; 

 seeds small and ovate, deeply pitted. Common. 



4. NEMASTYLIS. (Greek : thread-like style, applicable here to the 

 stigmas.) Flowers spring and summer. 



N. ccelestina, Nutt! Pine barrens S. Car., S.; 10-2'^ high, with hand- 

 some 1ml tuga<M()us bright blue flowers ; the leaves mainly from the small 

 bulb, linear and plaited. 



