542 CXLIX. IRIDACE^E. TIGRIDIA. 



distinguished by its very slender habit. Mass. ! to N. J. Rhizoma fleshy. Stem 

 smooth, 1 2" in cliam., 1 2f high, branching at top and bearing 2 6 flowers. 

 Bracts at the base of the branches withering. Leaves -few, alternate, grass- 

 like, 6 10' long, amplexicaul. Sepals narrow, yellow, edged with purple. 

 Petals linear-lanceolate. June. 



3. I. LACUSTRTS. Nutt. 



Lvs. ensiform, longer than the low, compressed, 1-flowered scape ; seg. 

 of the perianth nearly equal, obtuse, emarginate, the sepals scarcely crested ; 

 caps, turbinate, 3-sided, margined. Islands of Lake Huron, near Mackinaw, 

 Nuttall. Roots extensively creeping. Leaves 2 5' by 3 4", those of the scape 

 bract-like. Scape 1 2' high. Flowers pale blue, the sepals rather broader. Jn. 



4. I. SAMBUCINA. Flower-de-lAice. Fr., Fleur-de-lis. St. many-flowered, longer 

 than the leaves ; segments of the perianth emarginate, outer ones flat ; Ivs. bent 

 inwards at ihe point ; spathe membranaceous at the apex ; fls. beardless, lower 

 ones pedunculate ; stig. with acute, serrate divisions. Native of the South of 

 Europe. Common in gardens. The prevailing color of the flower is light 

 blue, often fading to white. May. f 



5. I. FUMILA. Dwarf Iris. Scape very short (3 6'), 1-flowered ; spatke 

 shorter than the tube j sep. reflexed, narrower than the erect petals. A small 

 species from Hungary, cultivated in the edgings of walks. Leaves numerous, 

 broad-ensiform, suberect. Flowers large, deep purple, appearingin early spring.-f 



6. 1. OCHROLEUCA. Beardless ; Ivs. ensiform, depressed, striate ; scape subte- 

 rete ; ova. 6-angled. A tall species from Levant. Stem 3 4f high. Flowers 

 ochroleucous or sulphur-yellow. July, f 



7. I. CHINENSIS. China Iris. Scape compressed, many-flowered ; stigmas 

 lacerated. A small species from China. Flowers elegantly striped. A few 

 other species are rarely cultivated in gardens, f 



2. IX I A. 

 CrT. t|os, sticky ; alluding to the glutinous juice of some species. 



Spathe of 2 or 3, ovate, short bracts ; petals and sepals distinct or 

 slightly united, similar, regular ; sta. 3 ; filaments filiform ; stigma 

 straight or incurved, fixed by the base, subfiliform. 



1. CHINENSIS. St. terete, flexuous, leafy; Ivs. ensiform, vertical, sheathing; 

 panicle somewhat dichotomous and corymbose ; perianth campanulate, segments 

 6, lance-linear. Native of S. Africa, frequent in gardens, Western and South- 

 ern States. Whole plant smooth, 3 5f high. Leaves erect, tapering to an 

 acute point. Flowers yellow, spotted with red inside, about \' long. Jl., Aug. -f 



3. GLADIOLUS. 



Lat. gladius, a sword ; in reference to the form of the leaves. 



Spathe 2-leaved ; perianth irregular ; stamens distinct, ascending ; 

 stigmas 3 ; seeds winged. A large genus of bulbous plants^ with large 

 and showy flowers. None native. 



G. COMMUNIS. Spike unilateral ; upper segment of the perianth covered by the 

 lateral ones. 3 lower marked by a white, linear-lanceolate spot, lowest very 

 large. A fine border flower, from S. Europe. Stem 2 3f high, with the flow- 

 ers arranged in a long, somewhat spiral row upon it. Perianth large, deep red, 

 variegated with white. Its colors are liable to considerable variation. Jl. -f 



4. TIGRIDIA. 



Name in reference to the large spotted flowers. 



Spathe 2-leaved ; the 3 sepals larger than the 3 petals ; stamens 

 monadelphous ; filaments united into a long tube. 



T. PAVONIA. Tiger Flower. St. simple, flexuous; Ivs. ensiform, veined; 

 segments flat ; pet. panduriform. A superb, bulbous plant, with large, beautiful 

 flowers, native of Mexico and Peru. Stem 2f high or more, erect, round, leafy, 

 somewhat branched. Leaves erect, smooth, a foot long. Flower inodorous, 



