IRIS, CROCUS, SAFFRON. 529 



remaining distinct ; but the styles coalesce into a single column. 

 In the Crocus, however, of which the common garden species is 

 so cheerful an indicator of departing winter, there are some im- 

 portant differences of structure. The stigmas do not expand, 

 but are rolled up ; still they are very large, and seem too heavy 

 for the style ; so that in the Saffron Crocus they hang down on 

 the outside of the flower, like an orange-coloured tassel. The 

 leaves, too, in the Crocus, are not equitant ; so that this species 

 departs widely from the general character of the group, and in 

 fact connects it with the Amaryllis tribe. The growth of the 

 leaves and flowers in the Iris takes place from an horizontal stem 

 or rhizoma, which is not subterranean, but prostrate on the 

 surface of the soil : and each successive yearly growth, instead 

 of dying away as in other instances, continues in connexion with 

 the foregoing ; so that a mass of stem, bearing apparently dis- 

 tinct plants, is sometimes produced to a considerable extent, and 

 is sometimes prolonged into branches by the development of 

 lateral buds. In the Crocus, however, we find the leaves and 

 flowers springing from a solid bulb, which must be regarded as 

 a contracted stem ; this neither lengthens upwards nor downwards 

 to any considerable extent ; but the buds formed from it separate 

 (as in the Orchis), and the old bulb perishes. 



706. The plants of this order are principally natives of the 

 middle parts of North America and Europe, and of the Cape of 

 Good Hope. They do not extend, to any great amount, between 

 the tropics ; nor into the colder parts of the temperate zone. 

 The very numerous species belonging to it spring up at the Cape 

 of Good Hope, upon the commencement of the rains ; and soon 

 cover the parched and bare-looking plains, with a robe of the 

 deepest green, adorned with all shades of gay and sparkling 

 colours. They are more remarkable for their beautiful fugitive 

 flowers, than for their utility. The chief product they afford is 

 Saffron, the uses of which have been already described (. 397). 

 The rhizoma generally contains nutritious matter combined with 

 slightly aromatic secretions ; this is used as food in some places 

 where Irises abound ; and that of the Iris Florentina, from 

 its agreeable odour, is employed under the name of Orris 



