IKIDACE^. 235 



5. C. aeau'le. Ait. - (Stemless L.) Scape naked, 2-leaved 

 at the base, 1-flovxred. Lip rose-purple, split down the whole 

 length in front, veiny. Sepals and petals greenish.— Dry or 

 moist woods, under evergreens. 



Order CI. IRIDA'CE.a:. (Iris I'amily.) 



Herbs with eqiuitant leaves and perfect flowers. The 6 

 petal-like divisions of the perianth in 2 (similar or dissimi- 

 lar) sets of 3 each ; the tube adherent to the 3-celled ovary. 

 Stamens 3, distinct or monadelphous, opposite the 8 stigmas, 

 and with anthers extrorse, that is, on the outside of the fila- 

 ments, faeing the divisions of the perianth and opening on 

 that side. Flowers from leafy bracts. (See Part I., sections 

 88 and 89. ) 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



1. Iris. The 3 outer divisions of the pei'i.inth reflexed, the 3 inner erect 



and smaller. Stamens distinct, the anther of each concealed 

 under a flat and petal-like arching stigma. The styles heldw 

 adhei'ent to the tube of the perianth. Pod 3-angied. Flowers 

 blue, large and showy. Leaves sword-shaped or grass-like. 



2. Slsyrin'clilnni. The 6 divisions of the perianth alike, spreading. 



Stamens monadelphous. Stigmas thread-like. Pod globular, 3- 

 angled. Stems 2-edgea. Leaves grass-like. Flowers blue, clus- 

 tered, from 2 leafy bracts. Plants low and slender. 



1. IRIS, L. Flowkk-de-Luce. 



1. I. versie'olor, L. (Larger Blue IPlag.) Stem stout 

 andleafy, from a thickened rootstock. Leaves sword-shaped, 

 Flowers violet-blue, 2 or 3 inches long. Inner petals much 

 smaller than the outer. — Wet places. 



2. I. prismat'iea, Pursh. (Slender Blue Flag.) Dis- 

 tiaguished from the last by its very slender stem and nar- 

 rowly linear leaves. Tube of the flower very short. — Atl. 

 sea-coast. 



3. I. laeus'tris, Nutt. (Lake Dwarf Iris.) Stem low, 

 3-6 inches high. Inner petals nearly equal to the outer. 

 Tube of the perianth slender, less than an inch long, dilated 

 upwards, rather shorter than the divisions of the perianth. 

 Leaves lanceolate, 3-5 inches long. — Shore of Lake Huron. 



