THE IRIS 133 



more distinguished little flower in any February than 

 this. It comes from the confines of Armenia, and 

 Mr. Lynch says that the foliage often attains to a 

 foot's length before it blooms. My cold frame speci- 

 men, however, stood up well above the spike of 

 curious eight-sided leaves, but these grew swiftly after 

 the flower had fallen. Herr Max Leichtlin chronicles 

 a white form, which must be a very exquisite creature. 



Iris Vartani is less known. It comes from near 

 Nazareth, where Dr. Vartan found it, and is a com- 

 bination of dull lavender and pale yellow. I have 

 failed to flower it as yet. 



Another Xiphion (though some say it belongs to 

 the Juno group) is Mrs. Danford's wee golden iris 

 from Mount Amascha. This is a pretty mite for pot 

 work. The blossom is a fine yellow, with a few 

 brown splashes on the fall. The standard for floral 

 effect is non-existent, since nature has reduced it to 

 a mere thread. Why ? 



So much for my Xiphions. To offer you pic- 

 tures of these small people is hardly fair to them. 

 Photography cannot reach or remotely suggest their 

 charms. 



The Juno group flower with the earlier xiphions 

 and may next be named. In connection with 

 iris sindjarensis, one murmurs " that blessed word 

 Mesopotamia." Thence it comes, and its exquisite 

 mingling of lavender and French grey produce a 

 tender effect as of a dream flower. The falls are 

 almost translucent and of the palest blue, touched 

 with deeper tones along the edge, and marked by an 



