DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 253 
I. celestina,.—Sky-blue Iris.—This is a magnificent spe- 
cies, with long broad leaves and very large light-blue 
flowers, on stems three feet high. 
I. versicolor.—Blue Flag.—This is a fine indigenous 
species, a showy ornament of our meadows in the early 
part of summer. It succeeds well in the garden. 
I. Virginica,—Slender Blue Flag.—This is another na- 
tive species, but not very common. It has grass-like fo- 
liage, with flower-stems one foot high; its flowers are 
purple, veined with yellow, and not so large as any of the 
other species or varieties. A very pretty plant for the 
border. ; 
I. Germanica.— German Iris— This is the common 
Flower-de-Luce of the gardens, well known to all. Flow- 
ers large, dark purple, and light-blue, or three-colored ; in 
May and June, two feet high. Z Florentina.—Floren- 
tine Iris, has large white flowers; flowering at the same 
time with the last, of the same height and habit. 
The series of Hybrid Iris is very extensive, at least one 
hundred varieties are cultivated by some florists, many of 
them however, have, so near a resemblance, that there are 
but very few cultivators that would be desirous of encum- 
bering their grounds with all the sorts. They are of all col- 
ors and shades of blue, purple, yellow, and brown; some 
are beautifully spotted, variegated, striped, parti-colored, 
etc. A bed of the-many varieties makes a fine show. 
The roots increase so fast, that it is necessary to make new 
beds of them every three or four years, Although the 
Tris is not considered as a Lily, the French have given it 
the name of one; it is the Mleur-de-Lys, which figures in 
the arms of France. The following conjectural origin of 
this name is given by the Abbe la Pluche, a French 
writer : — 
“The upper part of the Lily, when fully expanded, and 
the two contiguous leaves beheld in profile, have,” he ob- 
