194 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



N. tazetta. L. From the Italian for cup, from the cup-form 

 appendage of the corolla, and in English, Polyanthus, on account 

 of its numerous flowers ; beautiful. 



N. pseudo-narcissus. L. Daffodil, or double-flowered, has a 

 bell-form cup erect and crisped ; spathe 1 -flowered. 



Galanthus. L. 6. 1. 



As the flower has a snow-white color, the genus is from the 

 Greek for milk and flower. 



G. nivalis. L. Snow-drop. A beautiful early flower, with 

 smooth leaves ; introduced from the meadows of Britain. No 

 varieties or hybrids- have been produced from it. Loudon. 



ORDER 239. IRIDEiE. Corn-flag Tribe. 



Floral envelope 6-parted, or 6-petalled, in 2 rows, 3 often very 

 short ; stamens 3, on the base of the corolla ; ovary inferior, 

 3-celled, many-seeded ; style 1, and stigmas 3, often petal-like ; 

 leaves, except of Crocus, equitant, 2-ranked ; flowers covered by 

 a spathe or spathe-like bract, beautiful and fugitive. Properties 

 of very little consequence ; root of some, cathartic. 



Iris. L. 3. 1. Iris or Corn-flag. 



From their beautiful flowers, named after Iris, the rainbow, or, 

 in Egyptian, the eye of heaven. Loudon. A numerous genus, 

 and very beautiful ; abundant in Europe and Africa ; about 10 

 species in North America, and 2 of them in this State. Petals 

 alternately reflected. 



/. versicolor. L. Blue or Poison Flag. Common on wet 

 grounds, and about sluggish waters, or stagnant pools ; root cathar- 

 tic ; fine sword-form leaves. 



/. Virginica. L. A less common plant, in similar situations ; 

 near Boston, it is slender and more delicate, was called /. gracilis. 



