IRISES. SI 



tree, which produces better fruit, appears to have been 

 spread over the southern countries by the Arabs. 



A charming Tropaeolum (T. pentaphyllum) is seen 

 climbing in many places in the Gardens. It is a South 

 Brazilian plant and has scarlet, long-spurred flowers. The 

 small, yellowish-red petals ma'\- be discovered between 

 the short, green, calyx tips. The fruit is also ver-\- 

 pretty ; it consists of three dark violet, one-seeded "ber- 

 ries" which are frequenth" eaten in Brazil. 



Everywhere within the precincts of the garden the 

 ground is ga}' with the man\'-coloured Sparaxis tricolor 

 and grandijlora, an Iris from the Cape. In the spring 

 these flowers are sent in quantities to= the North together 

 with bright Txias, yellow Tritonias and golden, sweet- 

 scented Freesias. Almost ever^' gradation of colour is to 

 be found in the flo\vers of the Sparaxis between scarlet, 

 vermilion, carmine, blood-red and purple: rose-red, lilac 

 and white ; brown-red, violet and even black. The 

 flowers are also often chequered and marbled or 

 watered ; but generalh' A'ellowish and ornamented with 

 dark spots at the base of the corollas. Gav also are 

 the innumerable Irises which grow here on all sides, 

 flowers whose characteristic shape is well known to us 

 in the North. The genus takes its name from the rain- 

 bow, "Iris", because all colours are represented in the 

 blossoms. In the pictures of the old masters the Iris, 

 together with white Lilies and Roses, figure as attributes 

 of the Queen of Heaven. Under the name of "Lih''' it 

 formed part of the arms of the Kings of France. 

 Louis XI conferred it as a badge on Piero de' Medici 



