662 IRIDACE^. 



sunshine to dry, the largef bits cut off being reserved for replanting. 

 At the establishment of Count Strozzi, founded in 1806 at Pontasieve 

 near Florence, which lies in the midst of the orris district, the rhizomes, 

 collected from the peasants by itinerant dealers, are separated into 

 different qualities, as selected (scelti) and soi^ts (in sorte), and are ulti- 

 mately offered in trade either entire, or in small bits (frantumi), 

 parings (raspature), powder (jjolvere di giaggiolo o cZ' ireos), or 

 manufactured into orris peas. 



The growing of orris is only a small branch of industry, the crops 

 being a sort of side-product, but it is nevertheless shared between the 

 tenant and landowner as is usual on the Tuscan system of husbandry.^ 



In the mountainous neighbourhood of Verona, the rhizomes of 

 Giglio celeste or Giglio selvatico, i.e., Iris germanica, are collected and 

 chiefly brought to the small places of Tregnano and Illasi, north-east of 

 Verona. The peasants distinguish the selected long roots (radice dritta), 

 the knotty roots (radice groppo) which are used for the issue-peas, and 

 the fragments (scarto) employed in perfumery. 



Some orris root is also exported from Botzen in southern Tyrol. 



Description. — The rootstock is fleshy, jointed and branching, creep- 

 ing horizontally near the surface of the ground. It is formed in old 

 plants of the annual joints of five or six successive years, the oldest of 

 which are evidently in a state of decay. These joints are mostly 

 dichotomous, subcylindrical, a little compressed vertically, gradually 

 becoming obconical, and obtaining a maximum size when about three 

 years old. They are 3 to 4 inches long and sometimes more than 

 2 inches thick. Those only of the current year emit leaves from their 

 extremities. The rhizome is externally yellowish-brown, internally 

 white and juicy, with an earthy smell and acrid taste. By drying, it 

 gradually acquires its pleasant violet odour, but it is said not to attain 

 its maximum of fragrance until it has been kept for two years. 



We have carefully compared with each other the fresh rhizomes of 

 the three species under notice, but are not able to point out any definite 

 character for distinguishing them apart. 



Dried orris root as found in the shops occurs in pieces of 2 to 4 

 inches long, and often as much as 1;^ inches wide. A full-sized piece 

 is seen to consist of an elongated, irregularly subconical portion emitting 

 at its broader end one or two (rarely three) branches which, having 

 been cut short in the process of trimming, have the form of short, broad 

 cones, attached by their apices to the parent rootstock. The rootstock 

 is flattened, somewhat arched, often contorted, shrunken and furrowed. 

 The lower side is marked with small circular scars, indicating the point 

 of insertion of rootlets. The bi"own outer bark has been usually entirely 

 removed by peeling and paring ; and the dried rhizome is of a dull, 

 opaque white, ponderous, firm and compact. It has an agreeable and 

 delicate odour of violets, and a bitterish, rather aromatic taste, with 

 subsequent acridity. 



A sort of orris root which has been dried without the removal of 

 the outer peel, is found under the name of Irisa in the Indian bazaars, 

 and now and then in the London market. It is, we suppose, the 



^Groves, Pharm. Joum. iii. (1872) 229. — We have also to thank him for information 

 communicated personally. 



