IRIS 



FLAG OBDEB 



IRIS 917 



umbels, corymbs, or panicles. Perianth superior, petal-like,with 6 lobes or 

 segments, in two distinct circles, sometimes all nearly equal and alike, some- 

 times the inner ones larger or smaller and dissimilar to the outer ones. 

 Stamens 3, opposite the outer lobes or segments of the perianth. Ovary 

 inferior, usually 3-celled. Stigmas often petal-like. Fruit an ovoid oblong 

 or rarely linear, sometimes 3-lobed capsule with few or many seeds. 



IRIS (Flag). — A genus of ornamental 

 herbaceous plants with a woody or fleshy 

 creeping, or short spindle-shaped bulbous 

 rootstock, and sword-shaped or linear 

 often eq^uitant leaves. Mowers in 

 sheaths, often scattered on an erect scape 

 or spike. Perianth tube short, with the 

 3 outer segments or ' falls ' reflexed and 

 often bearded at the base ; the 3 inner 

 ones or ' standards ' erect, usually smaller 

 than the others. Stamens 3, inserted at 

 the base of the outer segments. Style 

 triquetrous with 3 petal-like stigmas 

 opposite and arching over the stamens. 

 Capsule oblong, round, smooth, 8-6- 

 ribbed, or distinctly triquetrous, 3-ceUed, 

 many-seeded. 



Owing to their beautiful and curiously 

 constructed flowers, Irises have been 

 rather appropriately called ' the Poor 

 Man's Orchids.' The common Grerman 

 {I. germanica) and Florentine Flags {I. 

 JiorenUna) are to be met with in cottage 

 gardens throughout the country, flourish- 

 ing in almost any soil, and producing 

 large numbers of flowers annually. But 

 there are many others which may be 

 grown quite as easily and are remarkable 

 for the dehoacy and beauty of colour 

 exhibited by their flowers. 



Broadly speaking. Irises may be 

 roughly divided into four main groups, 

 and as each group requires somewhat 

 different treatment it may be as well to 

 refer to each separately. 



1. Bearded Irises. — This group, of 

 which the common German Flag (J. 

 germanica) is a well-known example, is 

 readily recognised by its stout creeping 

 rootstooks, sharp pointed sword-like leaves, 

 and an erect scape with several flowers on 

 it. Most of them have the ' falls ' or outer 

 petals distinctly and often beautifully 

 bearded or crested at the base. They 

 form a group of great beauty, and are 

 perfectly hardy, vigorous, and free-flower- 

 ing. They flourish in ordinary garden 

 soil and require little attention. A par- 

 tially shaded position is better than one 

 fully exposed to the sun, as the flowers, 

 which are naturally of a fleeting character, 



remain fresh for a longer period under 

 partial shade than if scorched by the sun. 

 AU Irises with rhizomes or tuberous root- 

 stocks may be easily increased m the 

 autumn or early spring, simply by pulling 

 or cutting the rhizomes to pieces, taking 

 care that each portion has at least one eye 

 or bud from which the new plant can 

 develop. 



2. Beardless Irises. — There is a rather 

 large group of Irises characterised by the 

 flowers having no beards or crests. They 

 vary a good deal, and experience is the 

 best guide to thpir successful cultivation. 

 Some like a heavy loamy soil, others a 

 mixture of peat and loam, and others 

 again nearly aU peat, or almost a boggy 

 soil. Although some of them, like J. attrea, 

 I. vmguiaularis (or stylosa), and J. sibirica, 

 are fairly easy to grow well, others, like 

 I. douglasiana, I. tenax, and I. tectorum, 

 and such little-known kinds as J. calif ar- 

 nica and /. Sartwegi, are fastidious — 

 sometimes flourishing with ordinary care, 

 but at other times wasting away although 

 every attention is bestowed upon them. 



3. Bulbous or Xiphion Irises. — There 

 are many beautiful rare and delicate 

 species belonging to this group, the most 

 common and best known being the so- 

 called ' Spanish ' and ' English ' Irises. 

 They are distinguished by having a 

 roundish or spindle - shaped rootstock 

 resembling a bulb in appearance, and 

 by having often grassy or narrow leaves 

 and flowers of great beauty and variety 

 but generally smaUer than those of the 

 bearded and rhizomatous group. They 

 all flourish in rich sandy weU-drained soU 

 and like warm sunny situations. They 

 are best undisturbed for about 3 years, 

 after which they may be lifted when the 

 leaves have withered, and divided for the 

 purpose of increasing the stock. They 

 are far more effective in the flower garden 

 when planted in masses than separately. 

 Many of the choicer and rarer varieties 

 are safest grown in pots, as they can be 

 looked after more readily, and if neces- 

 sary given the protection of a cold frame 

 in winter. 



