MONOCOTYLEDONOUS OR ENDOGENOUS PLANTS. 547 



SYNOPSIS. 



Stifffiias petal-like, covering the stamens. Capsule angular Ibis 



Stigmas Jili/orm. Capsule globular. Stem flat SlSYBTNCHTDM. 



Stigmas filiform, 2-parted. Stem terete Nemastylis. 



IRIS, L. Blue Flag ; Flower-de-Luce. 



Perianth corolla-like, 6-parted, the exterior divisions re- 

 curved, and often crested or bearded within, the interior 

 mostly smaller and erect ; sia7nens 3, opposite the outer 

 divisions of the perianth, concealed by the dilated petal- 

 like 2 -lipped spreading stigmas ; style 3-angled ; capsule 

 3-6-angled ; seed numerous, flattened, packed in 2 rows in 

 the cells. — Perennial herbs, with creeping or tuberous root- 

 stocks, simple or branched stems, linear or sword-shaped 

 leaves, and showy flowers from a scarious spathe. 



* stems tall, leafy ; divisions of the perianth unequal. 



I. versicolor, L. stem nearly terete, simple or branch- 

 ed ; leaves sword-shaped ; floivers terminal, single or spiked, 

 cvestless; perianth pale blue, variegated with white, yel- 

 low, and purple, the inflated tube shorter than the obtusely 

 3-angled ovary; stigmas 2-toothed at the base, with the 

 lips entire, or slightly crenate ; capsule oblong, obtusely 

 3-angled. Wet places. April and May. Stem lJ°-2° 

 high ; lowest leaves l|^°-2° long, l'-l|^' wide ; perianth 2' 

 long. 



SISYKINCHIUM, L. Blue-eyed Grass. 



Perianth corolla-like, 6-parted, the divisions nearly 

 equal, spreading; stamens 3, monadelphous ; anthers sa- 

 gittate ; style short ; stigmas 3, simple, filiform and invo- 

 lute ; capsule and seeds roundish. — Grass-like herbs, with 

 fibrous roots, and scape-like, 2-edged stems ; floivers small, 

 in an umbellate cluster, successively developed from a rigid 

 2-leaved spathe. 



S. Bermudiana, L. Leaves linear, erect; stem simple 

 or sparingly branched, naked or 1-2-leaved, more or less 



