162 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 



of Turkey, and has long been popularly known as the 

 Turkish Flower-de-Luce. It is one of the oldest plants 

 of the English gardens, and was described by Gerard in 

 1629 as follows : "The greate Turkie Flower-de-Luce 

 hath divers heads of long and broad fresh greene leaves, 

 yet not so broad us many of those that follow, one folded 

 within another at the bottome, as all other of the Flower- 

 de-Luces are ; from the middle of some of these heads 

 (for every head of leaves beareth not a flower) riseth up a 

 round, stiffe stalke, two foote high, at the top wherof 

 standeth one flower (for I never observed it to beare two), 

 the largest almost, but rarest of all the rest, consisting of 

 nine leaves, like the others that follow, but of the colour 

 almost of a snake's skinne, it is so diversely spotted ; for 

 the three lower falling leaves are very large, of a deepe, 

 or dark purple colour, almost blacke, full of grayish 

 spots, strakes and lines through the whole leaves, with a 

 black thru me or freeze in the middle of each of them ; 

 the three arched leaves that cover them are of the same 

 dark purple colour, yet a little paler at the sides ; the 

 three upper leaves are very large, also, and of the same 

 colour with the lower leaves, but a little more lively and 

 fresh, being speckled and straked with whiter spots and 

 lines ; which leaves being laid in water will color the 

 water a violet colour ; but if a little alume be put therin, 

 and then wrung or pressed and the juice of these leaves 

 dryed in the shadow, will give a colour almost as deep 

 as Indigo, and may serve as shadows in limming excel- 

 lent well ; the flower hath no scent that can be perceived, 

 but is only commendable for the beauty and variety 

 therof ; it seldome beareth seedes in these cold countries, 

 but when it doth it is contained in greate heads, being 

 brownish and round, but not so flat as the other sorts ; 

 the roots are more browne on the outside, and growing 

 tuberous thicke, as all others that are kept in gardens." 

 While this is one of the most magnificent species of 

 the Iris, it is a little difficult to manage in our gardens; 



