IRIS 



THE BULB BOOK 



IRIS 



matous root - stocks of a woody or 

 fleshy character; the fourth group 

 comprises species the great majority 

 of which have a distinctly bvlbous 

 root-stock, and are also much dwarf er 

 in habit, with narrow angular leaves, 

 and small flowers remarkable for 

 their brilliant and varied colouring. 



The following classification will give 

 a clearer view of the principal species 

 belonging to the various groups : — 



I. — Beajided and Crested Irises. 



/. Alberti. 

 I. halhana. 

 I. Bartoni. 



I. 

 I. 

 I. 

 I. 

 I. 

 *I. 



benacensis. 

 biflora. 

 . Biliotti. 

 Chamceiris. 

 Ciengialti. 

 , eristata. 

 *I. Duthid. 

 I. Etilefeldi. 

 I. flavescens. 

 I.florentina. 

 I. germanica. 

 */. ffracilipes. 

 *I. Hookeriana. 

 I. hybrida. 



*I. kumaonensis. 

 *J. lacustris. 



I. lutescens. 



I. Meda. 

 *I. Miled. 



I. Tieglecta. 



I. pallida. 



I. plicata. 



I. pumila. 



I. rubro-margi- 

 nata. 



I. sambucina. 



I sqttalens. 



I. Swerti. 

 *I. teetorum. 



I. variegata. 



There are two distinct sections of 

 the Bearded Irises, the most showy 

 of which has been called " Pogoniris " 

 by Mr Baker in his Handbook of the 

 IrideoB. The other group, distin- 

 guished by an asterisk (*), are known 

 as "Evansia" and " Pseudevansia." 



The Bearded Irises, of which the 

 Common Flag (/. germanica) may be 

 taken as the best-known type, are 

 recognised by having stout creeping 

 root-stocks, sword-like leaves, and 

 an erect stalk with several flowers. 

 They are a charming group of garden 

 plants, and most of them being 

 perfectly hardy and vigorous, and free 

 in blossom, are easily grown in 

 almost any good garden soil. Before 



planting, this should be trenched, 

 and have some old or well-rotted 

 manure dug into it. The best time 

 for planting this group is in early 

 autumn, at which season the stock 

 may also be increased if necessary 

 by dividing the rhizomes. As a rule, 

 a somewhat shaded position will suit 

 the plants better than a very sunny 

 one, as the flowers, which are natur- 

 ally of a fleeting character, thus 

 last longer. 



II. — Beardless Irises. 



/. aurea. 

 I. bracteata. 

 I. cretensis. 

 I. Doiiglasiana. 

 J. faetidissima. 

 I. f viva. 

 I. graminea. 

 I. Grant Duffi. 

 I. Gvldenstced- 



tiana. 

 I. hexagona, 

 I. IcBvigata. 

 I. longipetala. 



I. missouriensis. 

 I. Monnieri. 

 I. nepalensis. 

 I. orientalis. 

 I. Pseudacoriis. 

 I. ruthenica. 

 J. setosa. 

 I. sibirica. 

 I. spuria. 

 I. tenax. 

 I. trojana. 

 I. unguicidaris. 

 I. versicolor. 



Culture. — The chief difference 

 between this group and the preceding 

 one is the absence of hairs or " beard " 

 on the falls, and in their somewhat 

 more varied character. The same 

 cultural conditions' will not suit all 

 alike, and while some grow quite 

 easily in ordinary garden soil, others 

 are somewhat fastidious and require 

 special attention. These points will 

 be noted under the different species 

 as required. 



III.— Oncocyclus or "Cushion" 

 AND "Ebgelia" Irises. 



/. acutiloba. I. Haynei. 



I. atrofttsca. I. Helenoe. 



I. atropurpurea. I. Heylandiaifia. 

 */. Barnwnw. I. iberica. 



I. Bismarckiana. *I. Korolkowi. 

 I. Gatesi. *J. Leichtlini. 



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