IPOMOEA. 203 



length : it is a perennial species, and is called in Jamaica, 

 the Seven-year-vine, or Spanish Arbour-vine. 



" The Camalata," says Sir W. Jones, " is the most 

 lovely of its order, both in the colour and form of its 

 flowers ; its elegant blossoms are ' celestial rosy red, 

 Love's proper hue, 1 and have justly procured it the 

 name of Camalata, or Love's-creeper. Camalata may also 

 mean a mythological plant, by which all desires are granted 

 to such as inherit the heaven of India ; and if ever flower 

 was worthy of Paradise, it is our charming Ipomcea." 



IRIS. 



IRIDEjE. TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



So named for its variety of colours. It is also named Flower-de- 

 luce. French, fleur-de-lys ; iris ; flambe ; and glaieule ; in the vil- 

 lage dialect, gle ; baguettes. Italian, iride ; giaggiolo ; giglio. 



THIS flower claims the whole world as her country: 

 some few species are from America ; several are natives of 

 the colder regions of Asia ; still more, of Europe ; and 

 most of all, of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Some of the species have very large flowers, which, from 

 their colours being very vivid, and several uniting in the 

 same blossom, are extremely showy. Many of them are 

 bulbous-rooted ; and of these the most esteemed is the 

 Persian Iris ; for the beauty and fragrance of its flowers, 

 and for their early appearance ; for it is generally in full 

 perfection in February, or early in March. A few of these 

 flowers will perfume a whole room : their colours are a 

 mixture of pale sky blue, purple, yellow, and sometimes 

 white. This kind, the Tuberous-dwarf, and the Spanish 

 bulbous Iris, may be blown in water-glasses, as directed 



