IRIS FAMILY. 449 
DIOSCOREACEAE. Yam Family. 
DIOSCOREA L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1032. 1753. 
About 150 species, perennial climbers, of the warmer parts of the globe, largely 
American. Japan. 
Dioscorea villosa L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1083. 1753. WILD Yam. 
Ell. Sk. 2:704. Gray, Man. ed. 6, 517. Chap. Fl. 474. Coulter, Contr. Nat. 
Herb. 2: 430. 
Alleghenian to Louisianian area. Southern Ontario, southern New England; 
throughout the Atlantic States to Florida and Texas. 
ALABAMA: All over the State, in damp woods. Cullman, Tuscaloosa, Jackson, 
Clarke and Mobile counties. May; frequent. 
Economic uses: The root, under the name of “wild yam root,” is used nonofficially 
in medicine. 
Type locality: ‘Hab. in Virginia, Florida.” 
Herb. Geol. Surv. Herb. Mohr 
IRIDACEAE. Iris Family. 
IRIS L. Sp. Pl. 1:38. 1753. 
Near 100 species, perennials, warmer and temperate zones of the Northern Hemi- 
sphere. North America, 20. Japan. 
Iris versicolor L. Sp. Pl. 1:39, 1753. BLUE FLAG. 
Ell. Sk. 1:45. Gray, Man. ed. 6, 513. Chap. Fl. 472. 
Canadian zone to Louisianian area. Newfoundland, Ontario, Manitoba, New 
England west to Minnesota and Nebraska, south to Florida and Louisiana. 
ALABAMA: Throughout the State. Marshes, ponds. Montgomery, Mobile, and 
Baldwin countics. Flowers azure. April. 
Economic uses: The rhizoma, under the name of ‘blue flag root” is used medic- 
inally. 
Type locality: ‘‘Hab.in Virginia, Marilandia, Pensylvania.” 
Ilerb. Geol. Surv. Herb. Mohr. 
Iris hexagona Walt. Fl. Car. 66. 1788. SouTHERN BLUE FLaG. 
Tris virginica Michx. F1. Bor. Am. 1:22. 1803. 
Ell. Sk.1:46. Chap. Fl. ed. 3,500. Britt. & Br. Il. Fl. 1: 448, f. 2070. 
Louisianian and Carolinian areas. Texas and Louisiana to Florida and South 
Carolina; Missouri, Kentucky (Britton & Brown). 
ALABAMA: Coast plain in the tide-water region. Open deep marshes. Mobile 
County, estuary of Mobile River and adjacent marshes, with Iris versicolor, Cicuta 
maculata, ete. 
Flowers April. Outer perianth deep cerulean blue with an orange-yellow, sparsely 
hairy crest, inner pale azure. One and one-half to 3 feet high. Abundant. 
Type locality: South Carolina. 
Iris verna L. Sp. P1.1:39. 1755. DwarkF IRIs. 
Gray, Man. ed. 6,514. Chap. FI. 473. 
Carolinian and Louisianian areas. Western Pennsylvania, Kentucky south from 
Virginia to Georgia. 
ALABAMA: Coast Pine belt. Dry pine ridges. Washington County, Yellowpine. 
Escambia County, Flomaton. Monroe County. Baldwin County, Stockton. Mobile 
County, Springhill. March, April. Flowers pale azure. Frequent. 
Economic uses: Planted for ornament. 
Type locality: ‘“‘ Hab. in Virginia.” 
Herb. Geol. Surv. Herb. Mohr. 
Iris cristata Ait. Hort. Kew. 1:70. 1789. CRESTED IRIS. 
Ell. Sk.1:44. Gray, Man. ed.6,514. Chap. Fl. 473. 
Carolinian area. Maryland, Virginia to Iowa, sonth to North Carolina, and along 
the mountains to Georgia. 
ALABAMA: Mountain region to Lower hills. Damp, shady banks. Winston County, 
Colliers Creek, 1,500 feet. Cullman County. Tuscaloosa County (£. A. Smith). 
Flowers pale blue. April, May; not frequent. 
Economic uses: Ornamental plant, grown in borders. 
Type locality: ‘‘ Native of North America.” 
Herb. Geol. Surv. Herb. Mohr. 
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