548 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
perennials, with creeping or tuberous rootstocks, leaves chiefly radical 
and sword-shaped, or grass-like, and flowers of peculiar structure and 
splendid colours, borne on a scape and at first enclosed in a sheath 
(spathe). The flower is a six-parted perianth with a short tube. The 
sepals are large, turned back, and supported on a short channeled foot- 
stalk ; the petals smaller, more erect, also stalked, the edges of the 
footstalk turned in. The stamens are attached to the sepals. The 
ovary is three-angled and supports a stout style, which divides into three 
broad petal-like stigmas. These arch over the sepals, and bear a plate 
along the centre of the inner surface, against which the anther lies; the 
stigmatic surface is a point just below this surface. The fruit is a 
leathery three-celled capsule, containing many large flat or globular 
seeds. In horticultural literature, trade lists, ete, it is customary to 
speak of the petals as “Standards,” of the sepals as “Falls,” and the 
expansion of the stigma is the “Limb.” The species are natives of the 
Temperate Regions of the Northern Hemisphere; two British. 
The native species of Jris are the Yellow Water-flag 
I. pseudacorus, so plentiful in marshy ground, by river- 
sides, ete., and the Gladdon or Roast-beef plant, J. fetidissima. Both 
these are used as garden plants; but, not content with these, we have for 
centuries been growing several exotic species, and in recent years we 
have seen the introduction of many new species and the rising up of 
the Iris amateur, who makes a specialty of growing all the finest Irises 
the world produces, just as his brother amateur makes a specialty of 
Orchid-growing. The consequence is this: Irises, like Orchids, though 
of course in a minor degree, require a volume to themselves; we cannot 
pretend here to give a full list of even the most desirable species. It is 
interesting to note that the exotic species first introduced to Britain, 
three hundred years and more since, are still held in high favour by 
growers. Of these, the commonly cultivated J. germanica was intro- 
duced from the Continent at some date prior to 1573. Professor Michael 
Foster says truly of it: “The plant is one that appears to be—and to have 
long been—a favourite of man. You will find it in the gardens of nearly 
all civilised nations along the Temperate Zone; it adorns the cottage of 
the English labourer and the walls of the Persian town. It has been 
brought to the English garden from abroad, but the French or Italian 
peasant has often transferred it from the mountain rock to his house- 
side.” In addition, there were growing in English gardens three 
centuries ago the following species that will be found in any good 
collection to-day :—J. biflora, I. florentina, I. graminea, I. pallida, I. 
pumila, I. sibirica, I. susiana, I. variegata, I. Xiphion. The genus is 
History. 
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