i6 



A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



44. Spring Iris. Iris verna. Stems 1-3 in. tall. Leaves 4-8 

 in. long, linear. Flowers somewhat similar to the preceding, 

 but not crested, and with yellow markings. In woods, Penn. 

 to Kentucky, and southward. May. Fig. 44. 



45. Flowers with a leaf -like spathe below them (see Figs. 



47-55). 



Leaves all basal, linear and grass- 

 like Blue-eyed Grass no. 46 



Leaves not all basal; lanceolate or oval .... Spiderworts no. 51 



46. BLUE-EYED GRASS. SISYRINCHIUM. 



Perennial grass-like herbs, with 2-edged or winged stems. 

 Flowers small, the petals all of even size and distinct, usually 

 dark blue, often with a fine-pointed tip beyond the other- 

 wise blunt apex. Beneath the flowers is a leaf-like spathe 

 (see Fig. 47). Fruit a small pod. (Iridaceae.) Many species 

 are known of which the commonest are: 



Spathes 2 together, stalkless (see Fig. 47) 



Blue-eyed Grass no. 47 



Spathes single, or if more than one, stalked (see Fig. 50) 



Stems mostly unbranched Blue-eyed Grass no. 48 



Stems branched above 



Plants fibrous toward the base Blue-eyed Grass no. 49 



Plants not fibrous towrards the base . . Blue-eyed Grass no. 50 



