IRIS FAMILY. 419 



I. pumila, Linn. Dwarf Garden Iris. Stem very short (4 '-6' high); 

 the violet and purple flower close to the ground, with slender tube and 

 obovate divisions hardly exceeding the short sword-shaped leaves. Eu. 



§ 2. Xiphion ; the roots bulbous, giving rise to a single stem. 



* Leaves at flowering time only 2' or 3' long. 



I. Persica, Linn. Persian Iris. A choice tender plant, dwarf, nearly 

 stemless, the flower on a long tube, earlier than the leaves, delicately fra- 

 grant, bluish, with a deep-purple spot at the tip of the outer divisions, 

 the inner divisions very small and spreading. 



* # Leaves afoot or more long at flowering time. 



n- Flower with a prominent tube (2'-3 ; long). 



I. reticulata, Bieb. From Persia ; stem a foot or so high, the leaves 

 equaling the flowers and finally surpassing them ; flower one, rather large 

 with narrow divisions, violet-purple, the limb spotted with violet and 

 streaked with yellow ; flowers very early ; leaves generally 2 together. 



+- ■*- Flower with scarcely any tube. 



I. Xlphium, Linn. (I. vulgaris of gardeners). Spanish I. Leaves 4-6 

 on the stem, remaining green during winter ; the stem l°-2° high and 

 sometimes 2-flowered ; flowers 3'-5' across, the outer divisions orbicular 

 and reflexed, the inner ones erect, all purple and veiny ; spathes 3'-4' 

 long, not inflated. Flowers coriander-scented. Spain. 



A xiphioldes, Ehrh. (I. Anglica.) S. Eu.; 3 or 4 leaves on the stem 

 and about 6 at its base, larger than in the last and not persisting during 

 winter ; plant l°-2° high, 2-3-flowered ; flowers large, lilac-purple, more 

 or less marked with yellow and feathered with white on the face of the 

 round-oblong outer divisions ; tubers larger and rounder than in the last ; 

 spathe 3'-4' long, inflated. Flowers scentless, later than the last. 



2. TIGRIDIA, TIGER FLOWER (as the name denotes). Flowers 

 summer. ' 



T. Pavbnia, Ker. From Mexico, the principal species, with several 

 varieties, planted out for summer flowering, sends up a stem 2° high, 

 bearing in succession a few very large showy flowers 6' or 6' across, 

 purple or orange-red, the dark center gaudily spotted with crimson or 

 purple. T. conchifl6ra of gardens is a form with bright yellow flowers. 

 T. grandifl6ra is a form with very large, bright orange-red flowers. 



3. SISYRINCHIUM, BLUE-EYED GRASS. (Greek: hog's snout, 

 the application not apparent.) Flowers all summer. 



S. angustifdliurn, Mill. Scape 4'-12' high, simple, with a solitary 

 terminal spathe, the outer bract more or less elongated ; flowers blue 

 (rarely white) changing to purple, the divisions notched or jagged and 

 bristle-pointed ; seeds large and globose, nearly smooth. Grassy plants, 

 growing in little clumps or tufts ; common. 



S. triceps, Cav. Usually taller and branching, the spathes 2 or more ; 

 seeds small and ovate, deeply pitted. Common. 



4. NEMASTYLIS. (Greek : thread-like style, applicable here to the 

 stigmas.) Flowers spring and summer. 



N. coelestlna, Nutt. Pine barrens S. Car., S.; l°-2° high, with hand- 

 some but fugacious bright blue flowers ; the leaves mainly from the small 

 bulb, linear and plaited. 



