472 lridacea— Tigridia. 
outer segments larger than the inner. The filaments of the 
three stamens are connate in a long tube. 
1. T. Pavonia.—This is the most popular and at the same 
time the most beautiful species. It is a native of Mexico, long 
since introduced into Europe. The flowers are large, from 5 to 
6 inches across, with the three outer segments of the most. 
brilliant crimson red, and the inner ones curiously marked 
with carmine and violet-purple upon a yellow ground. 
Asecond species, or rather a variety of the same, is the Yellow 
Tiger-Flower, 7. conchiflora, which differs ouly in having the 
exterior petals yellow. TZ. violacea is a pretty little minia- 
ture of the foregoing with the same habit and colouring on a 
smaller scale, and a lilac-amaranth ground. TZ. wriuew is a 
lovely little plant, but the flowers last only a few hours. The 
ground colour of the outer petals here is azure-blue, and the 
interior petals are of a bright yellow bordered with the most 
intense blue, and yellow marbled with purple towards the 
centre. 
8. IRIS. 
A familiar genus very numerous in species, and among the 
most ornamental of hardy monocotyledonous plants. Herbs 
with fleshy rhizomes, or in a few species bulbous or with 
fibrous roots. Leaves sword-shaped or linear, often equitant. 
Perianth-tube short, with the three outer segments reflexed, 
often bearded at the base, and the three inner erect, generally 
smaller than the outer. Stamens 3, inserted at the base of 
the outer segments; anthers turned outwards. Style trique- 
trous, with 3 petaloid stizmas opposite the stamens. Capsule 
3-celled, many-seedeil. Natives of the northern hemisphere, 
chiefly in temperate Europe and Asia. Name from the Latin 
iris, the eye. The specics are naturally divided into two dis- 
tinct sections:—the one with ensiform leaves and creeping 
rhizomes or fleshy fibrous roots; and the other with bulbous 
rvots and usually flat or incurved leaves. Amongst the ensi- 
form group we may mention :— 
1. J. Susiana.—A Persian species introduced into Europe 
towards the end of the sixteenth century. It is a gorgeous 
plant, possessing the largest flowers in the genus, and growing 
about 2 feet high. In this species the inner seyments of the 
perianth are the largest; all are of a lurid grey or brown, reti- 
eiulated with dark purple, and the outer ones strongly bearded. 
Flowering in April and May. 
2. 1. Gernvinica (fig. 229).—This is the commonest of this 
