lEIS 



FLAG OBDEB 



lEis 919 



the heads oi gemianica, hyhrida, pallida, 

 neglecta, squalens, and variegata are the 

 chief ones among which any quantity of 

 hybrid or cross-bred forms have appeared, 

 and they constitute a very important and 

 ornamental class of plants for the flower 

 border. The various other kinds cross 

 readily enough, and by cross-fertilisation 

 many fine vigorous and hardy forms could 

 no doubt be raised. 



The following is a list of the best kinds 

 of Irises met with in cultivation. They 

 are arranged in alphabetical order, and 

 not according to their natural groups 

 (which will be indicated) for the sake of 

 more easy reference. 



In the following descriptions the word 

 ' fall ' is used to indicate the 3 outer seg- 

 ments, and the word ' standard ' to indi- 

 cate the 3 inner erect segments of the 

 flower. Care must be taken to distinguish 

 the latter from the 3 petal-like stigmas 

 shielding the stamens in the centre of the 

 flower. 



I. acutiloba. — A distinct Caucasian 

 Oncocyclus Iris with slender and distinct- 

 ly creeping rootstocks and narrow slender 

 leaves curved into a semicircle from stems 

 an inch or two high. Falls about ^ in. 

 broad, almost strap-shaped, with a sharply 

 reflexed lance-shaped blade, pale lilac and 

 dark purple with darker distinct veins, 

 and a ridge of dense short dark purple or 

 blackish hairs at the base ; standards 

 oblong, twice as broad as the falls, erect, 

 with wavy edges, and of a pale lilac 

 colour. This species varies in colour, and 

 is very rarely met with. 



Culture dec. as above for ' Oncocyclus 

 Irises,' p. 918. 



I. alata (J. scorpioides ; I. trams- 

 taga/na ; I. trialata ; I, mcroptera ; 

 Xiphion alatum). — A very handsome 

 bulbous Iris native of S. Europe and N. 

 Africa, with lance-shaped pointed pale 

 green distichous leaves about 1 ft. long. 

 Flowers from October to December, with 

 a cylindrical tube 3-6 in. long, and a 

 bright lilac-purple limb about 3 in. deep ; 

 falls oblong, 1 in. broad, with bright 

 yellow ridge at the base ; standards some- 

 what spoon-shaped, 1 in. long, spreading 

 horizontally. 



This species varies a good deal in 

 colour ; hence several forms of it have 

 received special names like lilacina, 

 speciosa, cimerea, nigreacens, oupreata, 



magna, LeicMUni, pallida &c. There is 

 also a white variety, alba. 



Culture a/nd Propagation. — This 

 species grows mostly in winter, the 

 leaves beginning to wither about April 

 and May. In northern parts of the 

 country for this reason it usually requires 

 protection in winter, and is probably best 

 grown in a cold frame. 



Propagation is effected by detaching 

 the small bulbs from the base of the 

 larger ovoid ones when the plant is at rest. 

 The small bulbs may be planted sepa- 

 rately, but care should be taken not to 

 injure the fleshy roots, although bulbs 

 without them will grow. 



I. Alberti. — A native of Turkestan, 

 with a stout rootstock and sword-like 

 slightly glaucous leaves I5-2 ft. long. 

 The large bright hlac flowers are produced 

 in May and June, in loose panicles over- 

 topping the leaves, having densely bearded 

 falls veined with dull brown and lilac on 

 a white ground. 



Culture dc. as above for ' Bearded 

 Irises,' p. 917. 



I. atrofusca. — A beautiful Oncocylus 

 Iris, native of Palestine. It grows about 

 the same height has J. susiana, and has 

 weak pale green or slightly glaucous 

 leaves about a foot long. The large soli- 

 tary flowers are borne at the top of a stout 

 stalk a foot or so long, and are of a deep 

 violet-purple colour. The wedge-shaped 

 falls are about 3 in. long, 1^ in. broad, and 

 of a deep almost blackish velvety purple, 

 bearded at the base with brownish black 

 and yellow hairs. The roundish standards 

 are much larger, being about 4 in. long 

 and 3 in. broad, and of a deep violet-purple 

 distinctly veined with radiating lines and 

 dots of a deeper colour. 



Culture dc. as above for ' Oncocyclus 

 Irises,' p. 918. 



I. atropurpurea. — A Syrian species 

 related to /. iberica, and like that in 

 foliage. Flowers rather smaller with 

 narrow ovate falls blotched and bearded 

 with yellow at the base and tipped with 

 dark purple or black ; standards larger 

 and roundish, deep black-purple, with 

 veins of a deeper colour. Style reddish 

 purple-brown with smallish quadrate 

 crest. There is an improved Italian 

 form called ' Odysseus.' 



Culture do. as above for ' Oncocyclus 

 Irises,' p. 918. 



