STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 



behold in it the wisdom of the great Creator. The structure 

 of the cellular tissue in most water plants* and the smooth 

 oily surface of their leaves, have also been provided as a 

 means of throwing off the moisture to which their place 

 of growth must necessarily expose them; but for this 

 wise provision, which keeps the surface dry though sur- 

 rounded with water, the plants would become overcharged 

 with moisture and rot and decay too rapidly to perfect the 

 ripening of their seeds a process often carried on at the 

 bottom of streams and lakes, as in the case of the Water- 

 lily and other aquatics. Our blue Iris, however, does not 

 follow this rule, being only partly an aquatic; it stands 

 erect and ripens the large bony three-sided seeds in a 

 three-sided membraneous pod. ' The hard seeds of the Iris 

 versicolor have been roasted and used as a substitute for 

 coffee. The root, which is creeping, fleshy and tuberous, 

 is possessed of medicinal qualities. 



The name Iris, as applied to this genus, was bestowed 

 upon it by the ancient Greeks ever remarkable for their 

 appreciation of the beautiful on account of the rainbow 

 tinted hues displayed in the flowers of many of the species; 

 especially are the prismatic colors shown in the flowers of 

 the large pearly-white garden Iris, a plant of Eastern 

 origin. 



The Fleur-de-lis, as it was formerly written, signified 

 whiteness or purity. This was changed to Fleur-de-luce, a 

 corruption of Fleur-de-Louis the blossoms of the plant 

 having been selected by Louis the Seventh of France as his 

 heraldic bearing in the Holy Wars. The flowers of the 

 Iris have ever been favorites with the poet, the architect, 

 and sculptor, as many a fair specimen wrought in stone 

 and marble or carved in wood can testify. 



The Fleur-de-lis is still the emblem of France. 



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