472 IRIDACE^E. (IRIS FAMILY.) 



7. T. recurvata, Pursh. Leaves scurfy, bristle-awl-shaped, curved, nearly 

 terete, shorter than the stem ; stem naked above, 1 - 2-flowered ; corolla longer 

 than the calyx. East Florida, Leconte. Stem 6' high. Leaves ash-color, 2- 

 ranked, narrowly channelled. 



* * Stems filiform, pendent: flowers solitary, green. 



8. T. usneoides, L. (LONG Moss.) Scurfy and hoary; stems (1- 2 

 long) branching ; leaves 2-ranked, linear-awl-shaped, recurved ; flowers sessile 

 at the summit of the branches, small ; sepals longer than the bracts, half as long 

 as the linear recurved green petals. Humid situations in the lower districts, 

 Florida to North Carolina, and westward. June - Sept. 



ORDER 147. IRIDACEJE. (!RIS FAMILY.) 



Herbs, with linear or sword-shaped equitant nerved leaves, and fuga- 

 cious often showy flowers from a 2-leaved spathe. Perianth 6-parted, 

 the divisions spreading and equal, or the inner ones smaller, convolute in 

 the bud. Stamens 3, distinct or united : anthers extrorse. Ovary adnate 

 to the tube of the perianth, 3-celled ; the numerous anatropous ovules 

 fixed to the central placentae. Style single : stigmas 3. Capsule loculi- 

 cidally 3-valved. Embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Synopsis. 



1. IRIS. Stigmas petal-like, covering the stamens : capsule angular. 



2. SISYRINCHIUM. Stigmas filiform : capsule globular : stem flat. 



3. NEMASTYLIS. Stigmas filiform, 2-parted : stem terete. 



1. IRIS, L. BLUE FLAG. FLOWER-DE-LUCE. 



Perianth corolla-like, 6-parted, the exterior divisions recurved, and often 

 crested or bearded within, the interior mostly smaller and erect. Stamens 3, 

 opposite the outer divisions of the perianth, concealed by the dilated petal-like 

 2-lipped spreading stigmas. Style 3-angled. Capsule 3 - 6-angled. Seed nu- 

 merous, flattened, packed in 2 rows in the cells. Perennial herbs, with creep- 

 ing or tuberous rootstocks, simple or branched stems, linear or sword-shaped 

 leaves, and showy flowers from a scarious spathe. 



* Stems tall, leafy : divisions of the perianth unequal. 



1. I. versicolor, L. Stem nearly terete, simple or branched; leaves 

 sword-shaped ; flowers terminal, single or spiked, crestless ; perianth pale blue, 

 variegated with white, yellow, and purple, the inflated tube shorter than the 

 obtusely 3-angled ovary ; stigmas 2-toothed at the base, with the lips entire, or 

 slightly crenate ; capsule oblong, obtusely 3-angled. "Wet places, Florida, and 

 northward. April and May. Stem l-2 high. Lowest leaves l-2 

 long, 1' - 1^' wide. Perianth 2' long. 



2. I. hexagona, Walt. Stem terete, simple ; leaves linear-sword-shaped ; 

 flowers axillary and terminal, solitary, crested ; perianth deep blue, variegated 

 with white, yellow, and purple ; the cylindrical angular tube longer than the 



