THE IRIS 137 



themselves, and the falls are also pale green, darken- 

 ing to a rich velvety brown-black on the blade. 

 The pollen is yellow, and the blossom seems to 

 break out of the side of the green spathe-valve, 

 which overtops it. These spathes are, by the way, 

 double in my plants. Devon suits this Levantine 

 flower well, and it increases rapidly if allowed to 

 do so. 



Another group of only one species is Gynandiris. 

 and I believe Sisyrinchium is its sole representative. 

 This is Parkinson's " Barbery nut," and Mr. Lynch 

 records that he collected a variety, near Genoa, that 

 was exceedingly charming and has fared well with 

 him at Cambridge. My specimens came from Holland 

 and prosper thus far. Their original habitat I know 

 not, as there are several places from which they may 

 have started. They make up for very fleeting flowers 

 by abundance of them ; but these need sunshine 

 to make them expand, and if they reach the critical 

 flowering-day without it, they perish untimely. The 

 colour is a lovely lavender, with streak of yellow on 

 median line of fall ; a large white signal patch slightly 

 spattered with the prevailing tint also distinguishes 

 them. Stigmas and standards all spring up in a 

 cluster in the midst, and the standards, which are 

 delicately pointed, grow at right angles to the stem. 

 The little thing is hardy, and some in my garden 

 habitually throw double blooms with six of each part 

 instead of three. For this, however, I do not com- 

 mend them. Sisyrinchium is almost the least of the 

 irises, yet a spritely blossom and quite worth growing. 



