Iridaccce Iris. 



473 



section in cultivation. It is a native of Central Europe, and 

 extremely hardy. There are numerous varieties, and many of 

 them are strikingly handsome. The prevailing colour is some 

 shade of blue or violet, occasionally yellowish or white, and 

 prettily reticulated. The segments of the perianth are nearly 

 equal. Leaves large and fleshy ; stems 

 several-flowered ; flowers stalked. The 

 flowers appear from May to July. 



3. /. Florentines. Scarcely differing 

 from the last, but distinguished from 

 it by its quite white flowers rayed with 

 pale yellow on the outer divisions. 

 The rhizome is odoriferous and offi- 

 cinal, under the name of Orris-root. 



4. /. variegata. From Austria and 

 Hungary, with linear channelled leaves 

 and large yellow flowers, whose exterior 

 segments are bearded and marked with 

 brown, and bordered with pale rose. 



5. J. lurida. A South European 

 species with robust broad leaves and 

 medium flowers, brownish violet tinged 

 with yellow. 



6. /. spuria. Native of Spain and 

 Barbary, having long acute leaves and 

 bright blue medium flowers with a 

 large bright yellow spot on the three 

 outer segments. Not so hardy as 

 some. 



/. ochroleaca is similar to the 

 foregoing, from the same countries, and probably only a variety 

 of it. Flowers of a yellowish white with a blotch of bright 

 yellow on each of the outer perianth-segments. /. versicolor 

 is a dwarf North American species with short leaves and much 

 smaller flowers than in any of the preceding, of a violet browri 

 with a bright yellow spot on the very broad limb of the three 

 outer segments. /. cristata also a North American species, 

 of very diminutive stature, about 6 inches high, and very short 

 leaves. Flowers below the middle size, geminate, of a bright 

 blue, with a yellow spot on the outer segments. May or June. 

 /. pratensis, syn. /. Sibirica, is a native of Central Europe 

 and Russia. A pretty plant with grass-like leaves and blue 

 flowers. 



Fig. 229. Iris Germanica. 

 (i nat. size.) 



