3G8 I1UDACE-E. 



on the outside,- 6-eleft at the summit. Stamens 6, inserted 

 at the base of the lobes, included. Style awl-shaped, 3- 

 cleft at the apex. Capsule ovate, inclosed in the roughened 



perianth, 3-cellcd, many-seeded, opening at the summit. 



Perennial and smooth stemless herbs, with very Utile fibrous 

 roots, spreading clusters of thin flat lanceolate haves, and 

 small white or yellowish flowers, in a slender spiked raceme. 



A. farinosa, L. Star-grass, Colic Root. 



Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, smooth ; fiowert pedicellate, oblong-tubular ; lolct 

 lancc-oblong. 



Grassy sandy cr gravelly -woods, not common. July, Aug. Scape 2 feet high, 

 with several minute bract-like leaves. Flower* white, appearing as if •overed with 



a rough powdes. 



Order 121. IRIDACEJE — Iris Family. 



Herbs with equitant 2-ranled leaves, end regular cr irregular perfect Jlcwrr?. 'J-': 

 tube of the C-chft petal-lile perianth coherent with the S-ceUed ovary, and 3 dittintt 

 or monodelpltous stamens with extrone anthers. Flowers from a 2-leaved snathe, 



usually showy and ephemeral. Siilxs single: stigmas 3. Capsile 3-celled, iccu- 

 licidal, many-seeded. 



1. IRIS, Lian. Flower-de-Luo:. 



fir, Ir-is. ths rainbow deified; on account of the bright and various color 

 blossoms. 



Perianth 6-cleft, the 3 outer divisions spreading or re- 

 flexed, the 3 inner smaller and erect. STAApNS distinct, 

 placed before the outer divisions of the perianth, and under 

 the 3 petal-like stigmas. CAPSULE 3 to G-angled. Seels 

 fiat. — Perennials, with sword-shaped or grassy leaves and 

 large Hue, white and yellow flowers. 



1. I. versicolor, L. Blue Flag. 



Stem stout angled on one side, more or less flexuous ; leaves swcrd-£h:.ped; pe- 

 rianth beardless; ovary obtusely triangular with the sides flat; capsule obteg, 

 turgid, with rounded angles. 



"VVet places, common. May, June. Stem 2 to 3 feet high, rarely branched, from 

 a Large fleshy creeping root. Leaves % inch wide. Flowers - to ti at the EuiLiait 

 of the stem, blue, variegated with green, yellow and white at the base. 



2. I. Yirginica, L. Slender Blue Flng. 



Stem slender, round, smooth; leaves narrowly linear; perianth beardie ?; cxary 

 2-sided, each side deeply 2-grooved; capsule triangular, acute at both en •'..•. 



Wet meadows, rare. June. Foot tuberous, creeping. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, 

 somewhat flexuous, round. Flousers 3 to 6 at the summit Of the stem, blue aud 

 yellow, more delicate than in the proceeding; 



3. I. CRISTATA, Ait. Crested Iris. 



Scape mostly l-flowered> as long as the leaves ; perianal bearded, the heard crested 



