BORDER IRISES 171 



situations which their hollow stems tell us that they 

 enjoy. 



I. longipetala is the only tractable member of the 

 beautiful and desirable California group. It bears a 

 lovely sprightly flower with deep-toned veinings on the 

 lavender ground of its standards and tender silvery 

 falls. It is said that this plant should be moved only 

 when in full growth. 7. spuria and its various forms 

 are well worth planting, though I believe they vary much 

 in desirability. Mrs. A. W. Tate, the only form I have 

 here, is a good plant with fine foliage and a strong stem 

 carrying several deep-lavender flowers. 



Closely related to this is /. guildenstaedtiana a for- 

 midable name and a none too attractive species. The 

 purple form is better than the dingy yellow, but neither 

 need be included in any but a large collection. 



Three fine yellow Irises for the border or waterside 

 are 7. aurea, Monnieri, and ochroleuca. The first bears 

 a finely modelled butter-yellow flower with slightly 

 crimped petals poised well above the foliage; Monnieri 

 sends its lemon-coloured blossoms aloft on stems four 

 feet tall, and has a noble relative, Monaurea, deeper in 

 colour, which is said to grow six feet tall in moist situa- 

 tions. There is also another relative, Monspur, with 

 striking blue and yellow flowers that is too good a thing 

 to be omitted from a collection of any size. Ochroleuca, 

 the Gold Banded Iris, is said to reach a height of six feet 

 when well established in a moist situation, but it has not 



