86 FLOWERS AND FRUITS, 



richly colored parts, resembling petals, and curving away from 

 the centre. At first sight one would suppose the Iris was altogether 

 destitute of stamens, but if the stigmas are lifted up, the runaways 

 will be found snugly hidden beneath their broad lobes, and lying 

 close to a humid lip, through which the influence of the pollen is 

 conveyed to the ovules. We have many beautiful species of the 

 genus native in the United States, so that we need be at no loss for 

 specimens to adorn our gardens. The Iris is ihe national emblem 

 of France, and has been such from an early period in its history, 

 with the exception of the time when Napoleon ruled, who substi- 

 tuted for it, the bee, which was certainly much more appropriate 

 for an industrious nation. 



The species represented in our plate, is an ornamental, deciduous, 

 perennial, displaying its rich, blue flowers in May and June. The 

 stem is many flowered, longer than the leaves ; the lower flowers 

 are stalked ; spathes colored. When these beautiful flowers are, 

 agitated by the breeze, and the sun gilds their petals, tinting tlw**,. 

 with hues of gold, purple and azure, they have the appearance of 

 light and perfumed flames. This appearance has gained the flpwer r 

 the name of Flaming Iris, as well as the emblem, in. flora] language,, 

 of FLAME, Collected before they are fully expan$ed, s the peta)s ; 

 yield a most beautiful blue paint for water colors^ t|iey should; be> 

 pounded in a stone mortar with a wooden. p:?stle x put in the cellar a^ 

 fortnight, and after boiling down two, th^d^, adding alum till tji& 

 requisite color is developed; when it n^y be poured in shells;for u$e\ 



The hardy sorts of Iris are easi]$ propagated by parting 'th,-eir 

 roots in the autumn ; and few flowers, says Phillips, requiring so 

 little attention, produce so fine an, effect as these plants^ particu- 

 larly when their clumps are large. The roots should not be 

 removed oftener than once, in, three or four years, as they seldom 

 flower so abundantly the yeajc after having been planted. 



'* Amid its. waving swords in flaming gold, 

 The |r5a, ^py?ers..' x 



CHARLOTTE SMITH S 



