IRIS FAMILY 



its slightly shining surface or by the pollen which may 

 chance to adhere to it. From the base of each of the 

 outer perianth segments rises a stamen with a short 

 filament and large anther, closely pressed against the 

 nearest arm of the style. All this careful arrangement 

 looks toward cross-fertilization by means of the bee. 

 The arrangement seems to work well, for the Iris seeds 

 abundantly. 



The Iris leaf is erect and without distinction of blade 

 and petiole; the surfaces which stand right and left 

 are alike. A careful examination shows that what 

 appears to be a flat leaf-blade is in fact a leaf-blade 

 folded lengthwise. Toward the tip the folding is com- 

 plete and the lateral halves are blended, but nearer the 

 base they are more or less distinct and a crevice is there 

 left in which are clasped the flower-stem and the base 

 of the sword-like leaf above it on the opposite side. 

 That which answers to the under side of other leaves is 

 here on the outside. The clusters of leaves at the ground 

 are arranged in what is termed an equitant manner; 

 each leaf by its folding sits astride the leaf just above it. 



Ruskin, writing of this flower, says: "The Fleur- 

 de-lys, which is the flower of chivalry has a sword 

 for its leaf and a Lily for its heart. When that young 

 and pious crusader, Louis VII. adopted it for the 

 emblem of his house, spelling was scarcely an exact 

 science and the Fleur-de-Louis soon became corrupted 

 into its present form. Doubtless the royal flower was 

 the white Iris, and as li is the Celtic for white, there is 

 room for another theory as to the origin of the name. 

 It is our far more regal-looking, but truly democratic 

 blossom, jostling its fellows in the marshes, that is 

 indeed born in the purple." 



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