FLORA DOMEST1CA. 



year, or second year, as most convenient. The Persian 

 may be kept till the third. 



The Common Yellow Iris is called Water-flag ; Yellow- 

 flag; Water-sedge; in Scotland, Water- skeggs ; Lugs 

 in French, le glayeul des marais [marsh-flag] ; la Jiambe 

 bdtarde [false iris] ; lefaux acore [false acorus] ; la Jiambe 

 aquatique [water iris] ; le glayeul a Jleur jaune [yellow 

 flag] : Italian, iride gialla. This and several other kinds 

 have valuable medicinal properties : the root may be used 

 instead of galls, in making ink, or black dye. The seeds 

 are the best substitute for coffee hitherto discovered. 

 The juice is sometimes used as a cosmetic for removing 

 freckles, &c., and a most beautiful colour for painting has 

 been prepared from the flowers. 



" Many of the African kinds," says Mr. Martyn, " are 

 eaten both by men and monkeys; and the roots, when 

 boiled, are esteemed pleasant and nourishing." 



Of one of these, Iris Edulis, Thunberg observes that the 

 bulbs, " when boiled and served up at table, taste much like 

 potatoes*." Again he says 



" The Iris Edulis, a plant which grew here in abund- 

 ance (at the Cape), and decorated the fields with a variety 

 of white and yellow and blue flowers, were brought in great 

 quantities by the slaves. These bulbs were eaten either 

 roasted, boiled, or stewed with milk, and appeared to me to 

 be both palatable and nourishing f." 



Speaking of the great number and variety of beautiful 

 flowers, he continues " The elegant family of the Irises, 

 however, especially the Papilionacea, excelled all others in 

 the superb grandeur of their flowers, which was greater 

 than can be expressed J." 



* Thunberg's Travels, vol. i. p. 144. 

 t Ibid. vol. ii. p. 4. 

 J Ibid. vol. i. p. 294. 



