THE FLOWERS OF THE WATER-SIDE 



169 



acorns) is one ot the most striking of all 

 our wild flowers ; its grouji of long, 

 sword-like, pale green leaves, and its 

 head of bright yellow flowers, will always 

 catch the eye of the passer-by. The 

 rootstock is thick, and grows in a hori- 

 zontal position, throwing off the stems and 

 leaves ; it is very astringent and acid 

 to the taste. 



right inner segments. Over the larger 

 segments there are three petal-like stig- 

 mas (the female i)arts), which serve as a 

 covering to the stamens. 



The Yellow Iris flowers towards the 

 end of May and continues to do so 

 throughout June. 



Iris is the Greek for a rainbow, and tlie 

 name was given to this group of plants 



YELLOW IRIS. 



Two or three bright yellow flowers 

 appear on the flowering stem from a 

 large sheathing leaf or bract, and if one 

 of these be pulled carefully to pieces, 

 it will be found to consist of nine portions. 

 Since both the sepals and petals are 

 coloured, the whole of the coloured flower 

 is called a perianth ; the three large, 

 spreading jiortions (which give the name 

 Flag) alternate with three smaller, up- 

 22 



on account of the many colours which 

 are to be found among members of the 

 genus ; the name psciiduconis means 

 " resembling the Sweet Sedge." The local 

 name " Segg " is a conniption of sedge, 

 and comes from the Anglo-Saxon word 

 scgg, meaning a small sword, from the 

 shape and sharpness of the leaves. This 

 j)lant is the original of the flcitr-dc-lys 

 in the arms of France. 



