474 



IridacecE Iris. 



7. /. Pseud-dcorus. Yellow Flag. This is the common 

 indigenous species, growing about a yard high, with long acute 

 bright green leaves and large clear yellow flowers. Suitable 

 for lakes and swampy places. 



/. Monnieri, from S. Europe, is a similar plant, with larger 

 and brighter yellow flowers. 



8. Lfimbriata. Of Chinese origin, and one of the hand- 

 somest of the genus. Flowers large, of a bright blue variegated 

 with dark brown on the outer segments, which are undulated. 

 Stigmas erect, petaloid and fringed. A tender species. 



9. I. arenaria. The dwarfest of the genus, from 2 to 4 

 inches high. Flowers scarcely exceeding the leaves, of a uni- 

 form yellow. A native of the sandy plains of Hungary. 



We now come to the bulbous section, 

 which is by no means so numerous in 

 species as the foregoing. 



10. /. Xiphiw.n (fig. 230). Commonly 

 known in English gardens as the Spanish 

 Iris. Stems from 9 inches to a foot high, 

 and furnished with narrow acute leaves. 

 Flowers of medium size, two or three 

 together, with narrow nearly equal seg- 

 ments. The natural colour is an azure 

 blue, but there are many varieties in cul- 

 tivation ranging through all shades of 

 blue, associated with yellow and chestnut. 



11. /. xiphioldes. English Bulbous Iris 

 of florists. Slightly different from the 

 last, but usually 1-flowered, and the flower 

 larger. The three exterior segments are 

 of a bright yellow, with an orange spot in 

 the centre of the limb, the three interior 

 blue or violet. There are also many 

 beautiful garden varieties of this species. 

 This and the last are both natives of 

 South-western Europe. 



12. /. spectdbilis. Similar in habit, but taller than the two 

 last. The outer perianth-segments brownish, with a large 

 orange blotch in the middle of the limb ; the three, interior of 

 a deep violet. 



13. /. Persica. A charming plant from Western Asia, for- 

 merly widely spread in gardens, but now become rather rare. 



Fig. 230. Iris Xiphium. 

 (i nat. size.) 



