THE XIPHION GROUP 15 



group, but, as its bulbs have netted coats, it may perhaps 

 be just mentioned here. It is distinct from all other 

 Irises in its method of increase and in the extreme frailty 

 of its flowers, which last only from twelve to four on a 

 sunny day. Its habitat extends from Portugal to Kashmir, 

 and its colour varies through all shades of lavender, lilac, 

 and purple. It has been said to have the additional merit 

 that, if you do not like the flower or the habit of the plant, 

 you can eat the bulb. 



CHAPTER IV 



BULBOUS IRISES (continued) 



II. THE XIPHION GROUP 



THIS group contains the so-called Spanish and English 

 Irises, both of which are well known, and a certain number 

 of wild species akin to them that might well be more often 

 seen in gardens. 



/. xiphium comes from Spain and Portugal, and affords 

 brightly-coloured masses of flower about the middle of 

 June. It delights in a warm, rich soil, and the bulbs should 

 be lifted occasionally when the foliage withers, and separ- 

 ated before overcrowding occurs to diminish the size of 

 the flowers. In recent years a number of very fine large- 

 flowered hybrids have been introduced into cultivation by 

 the well-known Dutch firm of C. G. Van Tubergen, Jun., 

 of Haarlem. The flowers of these hybrids are of great size 



