YELLOW IRIS. — /m Pseud-acorus. 



Class Teiandeia, Order Monogtnia. Nat. Ord. iRiDACEiE. 

 Iris Tribe. 



This handsome flower waves its bright petals 

 over many of the streamlets which wind their 

 way among our rustic landscape. It grows 

 too in moist meadows and woods. It is also 

 called Corn-flag and Water Sedge, while in 

 Scotland it is commonly termed Water Skeggs. 

 Charlotte Smith thus alludes to it : — 



" Retiring May to lovely June 



Her latest gai'land now resigns ; 

 The banks with cuckoo flowers are strewn, 

 The wood-walks blue with columbines ; 

 And with its reeds the wandering stream 

 Reflects the flag-flower's golden beam." 



The root of the Corn-flag is scentless, and of 

 sweetish flavour. Either infused in w^ater, or 

 powdered and taken as snuff", it produces a 

 sense of heat in the mouth and throat, wdiicli 

 has been known, in some individuals, to re- 

 main for twelve hours. The root is somethnes 

 used medicinally, but is so powerful that it 

 should be employed with great caution. An 

 infusion, like that of galls, and other vegetable 

 astringents, may with the addition of iron be 

 made into ink, or it forms a good black dye ; 

 and the inhabitants of Scotland and the adja- 

 cent isles have long been in the habit of using 

 3^0. 9. 



