4 70 Iridacccz Sisyrinchium. 



spreading or campanulate, segments equal, tube short. Stamens 

 on the throat of the perianth. Stigmas three, entire, chiefly 

 from North and South America. The etymology "of the name 

 is uncertain. There are two or three hardy species in cul- 

 tivation. 



1. S. Bermudidnum, syn. S. dnceps. A dwarf species from 

 12 to 18 inches high, with linear leaves and a sharply two-edged 

 flower-scape. Flowers few in each umbel, bright blue, perianth- 

 segments mucronate. A native of North America, flowering in 

 Summer. 



2. S. convolutum, syn. Mdrica, convoluta. A rather tender 

 species about six inches high, growing* in dense tufts. Scapes 

 about 3- or 4-flowered. Flowers yellow, appearing in May. 

 South America. 



3. S. grandiflorum. A pretty tuberous-rooted plant with 

 the aspect of Iris Xiphium. Scapes nearly round, bearing 3 or 

 4 large campanulate purplish-violet or white flowers. This is 

 the handsomest of the genus and one of the hardiest. It is a 

 native of North America, and blooms from April to June. 



There are several other less hardy species occasionally seen : 

 as, S. blcolor, violet spotted with yellow ; 8. odoratissimum, 

 with very fragrant white flowers ; and S. Ccdifornicum, with 

 bright yellow flowers. 



2. LIBERTIA. 



A small genus differing from Sisyrinchium in the outer 

 perianth-lobes being smaller than the inner and often green, 

 free or almost free filaments, and versatile anthers. Flowers 

 always white, arranged in sub-umbellate panicles. The species 

 are natives of Australasia and South America and rather tender. 

 Named after a Belgian lady-botanist. L. ixioldes is a New 

 Zealand species from 2 to 3 feet high with rigid linear foliage 

 and close clustered simple panicles of white flowers about an 

 inch in diameter. L. Magelldnica is a dwarfer plant with 

 denser spikes of pure white flowers. The latter is sometimes 

 sold under the name formosa. 



3. VIEUSSEtJXIA. 



Half-hardy South African tuberous-rooted herbs with narrow 

 equitant and branching stems bearing pedunculate flowers 

 which exceed the spathaceous bracts. Perianth with the 3 

 inner segments much smaller than the outer. Filaments united 

 in a tube. This genus was named in honour of a Swiss phy- 



