470 Lridacee—Sisyrinchium. 
spreading or campanulate, segments equal, tube short. Stamens 
on the throat of the perianth. Stigmas three, entire, chiefly 
from North and South America. The etymology of the name 
is uncertain. There are two or three hardy species in cul- 
tivation. 
1. 8. Bermudianum, syn. S. dnceps. A dwarf species from 
12 to 18 inches high, with linear leaves and a sharply two-edged 
flower-scape. Flowers few in each umbel, bright blue, perianth- 
segments mucronate. A native of North America, flowering in 
Summer. 
2. 8. convoliitwm, syn. Marica convoliita.—A rather tender 
species about six inches high, growing: in dense tufts. Scapes 
about 3- or 4-flowered. Flowers yellow, appearing in May. 
South America. 
3. S. grandiflorum.—aA pretty tuberous-rooted plant with 
the aspect of Iris Xiphiwnt. Scapes nearly round, bearing 3 or 
4 large campanulate purplish-violet or white flowers. This is 
the handsomest of the genus and one of the hardiest. It is a 
native of North America, and blooms from April to June. 
There are several other less hardy species occasionally seen : 
as, S. bicolor, violet spotted with yellow; S. odoratissimwum, 
with very fragrant white flowers; and S. Califérnicum, with 
bright yellow flowers. 
2, LIBERTIA. 
A small genus differing from Sisyrinchiwm in the outer 
perianth-lobes being smaller than the inner and often green, 
free or almost free filaments, and versatile anthers. Flowers 
always white, arranged in sub-umbellate panicles. The species 
are natives of Australasia and South America and rather tender. 
Named after a Belgian lady-botanist. JL. iricides is a New 
Zealand species from 2 tu 3 feet high with rigid linear foliage 
and close clustered simple panicles of white flowers about an 
inch in diameter. LZ. Magetlénicu is a dwarfer plant with 
denser spikes of pure white flowers. The latter is sometimes 
sold under the name formdésa. 
3. VINUSSEU XIA. 
Half-hardy South African tuberous-rooted herbs with narrow 
equitant and branching stems bearing pedunculate flowers 
which exceed the spathaceous bracts. Perianth with the 3 
inner segments much smaller than the outer. Filaments united 
ina tube, This genus was named in honour of a Swiss phy- 
