JAPANESE IRIS 



Perianth-tube— Funnel-shsiptd; outer segments three inches long 

 and three to five inches broad; inner segments narrowed and short. 



Stamens— Three, style-branches more than an inch lone; crests 

 large, deltoid. 



The flowering of the Japanese group in late June closes the Iris 

 season, though sometimes it runs on into July. In general ap- 

 pearance this group differs greatly from other Irises. The leaves 

 are bright and grass-like ; the 

 stems considerably overtop 

 the leaves and bear a single 

 cluster of two or three flow- 

 ers. The colors run mostly 

 from white through violets 

 and purples, though there 

 are queer pinks and wonder- 

 ful blue-grays; marvellous 

 markings and veinings ap- 

 pear in bewildering confu- 

 sion. The flowers seem lightly 

 poised on their tall stems and 



,r £c i. • • . -7 • A View of Japanese Iris Looking Down upon the 



the etiect is m striking con- Flower 



trast with that of the German 



Irises. In form the flower differs from the common type. The 

 falls are wide and flat, the standards narrow and short, and the 

 result is that, to a certain extent, the blossom becomes salver- 

 shaped. Double forms appear, in place of three falls there are 

 six, but this doubling seems not to lessen the grace of the flower. 

 Though all the Japanese Irises are referred to a single primi- 

 tive. Iris IcBvigata, it is evident that the type was broken long 

 ago by the Oriental gardeners and that a new species may be 

 said to have been created. Excellent examples were sent to this 

 country soon after the opening of the Japanese treaty ports, 

 but they attracted little if any attention. The popularity of these 

 Irises dates from very recent times. They are admirable garden 

 plants, not at all particular about soil, but should have a good 

 deal of moisture in order to do well. _ 



8S 



