Lridacce—Iris. 473 
section in cultivation. It is a native of Central Europe, and 
extremely hardy. There are numerous varieties, and many of 
them are strikingly handsome. The prevailing colour is some 
shade of blue or violet, occasionally yellowish or white, and 
prettily reticulated. The segments of the perianth are nearly 
equal. Leaves large and fleshy ; stems 
several-flowered ; flowers stalked. The 
flowers appear from May to July. 
3. I. Florentima.—Searcely differing 
from the last, but distinguished from 
it by its quite white flowers rayed with 
pale yellow on the outer divisions. 
The rhizome. is odoriferous and offi- 
cinal, under the name of Orris-root. 
4, I. variegata.—From Austria and 
Hungary, with linear channelled leaves 
and large yellow flowers, whose exterior 
segments are bearded and marked with 
brown, and bordered with pale rose. 
5. I. lwrida.—A South European 
species with robust broad leaves and 
medium flowers, brownish violet tinged 
with yellow. 
6. I. spiuria.—Native of Spain and 
Barbary, having long acute leaves and 
bright blue medium flowers with a 
large bright yellow spot on the three 
outer segments. Not so hardy as 
some. Fig. 229. Iris Germanica. 
(} nat. size.) 
I. ochroleiucu is similar to the 
foregoing, from the same countries, and probably only a variety 
of it. Flowers of a yellowish white with a blotch of bright 
yellow on each of the outer perianth-segments. J. versicolor 
is a dwarf North American species with short leaves and much 
smaller flowers than in any of the preceding, of a violet brown 
with a bright yellow spot on the very broad limb of the three 
outer segments. J. cristata also a North American species, 
of very diminutive stature, about 6 inches high, and very short 
leaves. Flowers below the middle size, geminate, of a bright 
blue, with a yellow spot on the outer segments. May or June. 
I. praténsis, syn. I, Sibivica, is a native of Central Europe 
and Russia. A pretty plant with grass-like leaves and blue 
flowers. 
