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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



lEIS 



earlier than the type ; the plants vary a 

 good deal and the blooms are sometimes 

 sweet-scented, and of a more or less deep 

 claret - purple colour with golden - yellow 

 ridges to the falls. 



(6) Purpurea. — This flowers about 

 the same time as Krelagei when the 

 leaves are 2-3 in. long, and is of a fine 

 deep reddish-purple, the blade of the falls 

 being particularly dark, and thtis forming 

 a striking contrast with the yellow ridge. 



(7) Sophenensis. — The ijowers appear 

 after those of the variety Histrio and be- 

 fore those of Krelagei, and vary in colour 

 from a dark red-purple to a blue-purple, 

 or to a lilac or lavender, the whole having 

 a peculiar metallic sheen, and the orange 

 ridge on the falls is continued imevenly 

 along the entire length. 



Besides the above forms of reticulata 

 which are distinct not only in colour but 

 also in the shape of the floral segments, 

 there is also a seedling form called major or 

 ccerulea having various shades of pale 

 blue ; and there are several other variations 

 scarcely meriting distinctive names. 



Culture and Propagation. — -I. reti- 

 culata and its varieties flourish in a 

 light free soil in warm sunny and shel- 

 tered situations. "V^Tien thoroughly rip- 

 ened the bulbs may be lifted and stored ; 

 otherwise, and especially in wet seasons, 

 they are apt to rot or become diseased in 

 the soil. Three or four bulbs in a 5 in. 

 pot grown in a cold frame or greenhouse 

 make a beautiful pictiire. When grown 

 outside, owing to the flowers appearing at 

 an unfavourable period of the year, it is 

 advisable to have handlights or sheets of 

 glass ready to place over the plants as a 

 protection against drenching rains or 

 severe frosts. 



I. rosenbachiana. — A lovely little 

 bulbous Iris native of the raountains of 

 Eastern Buchara and Turkestan at an 

 elevation of 6000 to 7000 ft. The bulbs 

 have numerous fleshy and often ovoid 

 roots, and tufts of lance-shaped bluntish 

 leaves about 8 in. long and 2 broad. The 

 sessile solitary flowers visually appear in 

 March and April, but sometimes in Feb- 

 ruary, when the leaves are very short, or 

 even before they have appeared. The pre- 

 vailing colour is a combination of purple, 

 yellow and white, but is very variable, 

 and some forms are of a rich crimson or 

 purple-blue passing into a dull or dingy 

 lavender, while others are nearlj' pure yel- 



low with a few purple or violet markings. 

 There is also a form with pure white 

 flowers except for a large blotch of deep 

 violet on the blade of the fall. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species grows well in a fairly light soil, 

 and is best in warm sunny situations 

 sheltered from violent . vsdnds which 

 damage the broad leaves. During the 

 summer and early autumn months the 

 plants should be kept dry so as to thor- 

 oughly ripen their bulbs. 



I. rubro-marginata. — A pretty stem- 

 less Iris about 4 in. high, native of 

 Scutari, having sickle-shaped leaves, 3-4 

 in. long, and in spring large purple flowers 

 with a purple beard. 



Culture dc. as above for 'Bearded 

 Irises,' p. 917. Ordinary soil. Increased 

 by division or seeds. 



I. ruthenica. — A beardless species 

 native of E. Europe and Asia, with 

 linear ribbed leaves much overtopping 

 the fragrant flowers which are borne 

 singly in March and April on short 

 slender stems 1-4 in. high. The prevail- 

 ing colour is lilac-purple, the falls being 

 veined with white. The variety violacea 

 has violet-coloured blooms. 



Culture dc. as above for 'Beardless 

 Irises,' p. 917. Ordinary soU. Increased 

 by division or seeds. 



I. sambucina. — A native of Central 

 Europe, Asia Minor &c., with tufts of 

 glaucous leaves 15-18 in. long, and 

 clusters of large Elder-soented flowers 

 produced in May on branching stems 

 about 2 ft. high; falls claret-purple with 

 a yellow beard; standards dull yellow, 

 suffused with dull olaret-piurple. 



Culture Ac. as above for ' Bearded 

 Irises,' p. 917. Ordinary garden soil. 

 Increased by division. 



I. Sari. — A fine Oncocyclus Iris from 

 the banks of the river Sar in Cilicia. 

 The typical plant, which has bright lilac 

 flowers, does not appear to be in culti- 

 vation, but is represented by the variety 

 lurida which has about 6 sword-shaped 

 falcate somewhat glaucous leaves, about 

 6 in. long and ^ in. broad. The flowers 

 are produced in May, and very much 

 resemble those of 1. susiana, but are 

 somewhat smaller, and of a soft violet- 

 purple with deeper spots and veins, the 

 falls being darker in colour than tlw" 

 roundish standards and having a diffuse 



