Structural Characteristics 



137 



from the midrib, and in a few as, Mme. Chereau 

 (Fig. XXXVIII) to such an extent that the edges 

 almost meet. 



The names by which the American Iris Society 

 designates the carriage of the falls of different varieties, 

 are shown in Fig. XXXIX. 



Varieties having their 

 standards quite open and 

 their falls closely ap- 

 proaching the horizontal 

 (as, Queen of May) are 

 sometimes described as 

 " orchid-like" or having 

 an orchid effect; but these 

 as descriptive terms are 

 apt to be misleading 

 except their charm the 

 Iris and the Orchid rarely 

 have much in common. 

 (See page 84.) 



On the upper part of 

 the base of each of the 

 falls, along the midrib, 

 there is a collection of 

 closely set hairs or down, 

 which is called the 

 "beard" (Fig. XX, 13, 

 page 1 30) ; hence the name 



"Bearded Iris". (See FIG. XXX. GROUP OF PENELOPE* 



FIG. XXIX. PENELOPE 



*Courtesy of Mrs. Vibe K. Spicer, Kenilworth, 111. 



