302 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
where s s s represent the three reflexed or bent-back richly- 
coloured sepals, and p p p the erect petals at the summit of the — 
flower. These six divisions, which are free in the young plant, 
and arranged in two rows, are 
afterwards united, and form a 
perianth of singular appear- 
ance, taking a tube-like form 
towards the base. On depress- 
ing the sepals, three stamens 
with broad flattened filaments 
and elongated anthers, bifur- 
cated in the form of an arrow- 
in head, are observed opening im 
\S\ two longitudinal grooves filled 
: ‘) with voluminous pollen seeds. 
These stamens, which are at 
first completely independent 
| of the perianth, are uni 
a re in the adult state to that organ. 
Petals and Sepals of the Iris. The pistil consists of an 
inferior ovary united to a style attached by its base to the foot 
of the tube of the perianth, and terminating in three petaloid is 
stigmatiferous leaves. The ovary presents three cells, enclosing 
4= @ numerous ovules attached to its middle, oF 
anatropally disposed in two series placed ab 
the internal angle of each cell. The frut 
is capsular, and opens into three distinct por 
tions, divided by valves at the centre. Fig. S 
357 shows this loculicidal dehiscence, the valves 
with the septe in the centre, each valve beng 
formed of the half of the contiguous carpel: — 
The seeds being horizontal and flattened, - 
present a straight embryo placed in an axis © ae 
= A Ba 
ke Z 
ee oe as 
ee === 
a 
AUN ete — ee — = 
WorSs —————— 
‘ = = SS 
SSE 
‘a 
Fig. 357. 
Capsule of the Iris. fleshy albumen. 
The Iris has a thick, branching, fleshy, horizontal phizome, # 
simple or branching stem. The leaves are for the most part in 
fasciculate radicles folding longitudinally, and attached nearly o: 
their whole length by the two halves of their internal face. The 
