IRIDE.C. 241 



Oi\iry 3-cclleci, enclosed in tlie tul)C of tiic pcriantli. Ovules 

 niiineroii!!. Styk 1. StignidS 3, in the Iris dilated, and |>cta- 

 toid. C(/;m'm/<t 3- celled, 5.valved, deliiscence loculicidal. Seeds 

 numerous. Herbaceous plants, with equitant leaves. Flow, 

 (rs spathaceous. 



Gents 1 IRIS. 



Perianth 6-parted, segments unequal, the outer ones large 

 and rcllexed, tiie inner smaller, and erect. Stamens 3-distinct. 

 Style none. Stigmas 3, petaloid, deflected, covering the sta- 

 mens. 



1 I Cristata. -SVeTTi compressed, short. £«<arejen3ifomi ; sccpe 1-flow- 

 cred ; exterior segmena of the perianth, oblong, obtuse, entire, with 3 lon- 

 ijitadinal crests, interior petals narrower. Creited Iris. 



Bhie and yellow. l\. Feb. — March. Abundant in Mid. Car. ~-4 in. 



2 I Versicolor. Stem erect, simple, or branched towards the summit. 

 Letivts ensiform. Flowers 2-4 at the summit of the scape; segments of the 

 perianth spatulate, exterior segments pubescent on the inner surface, inner 

 ones smaller. Stigmas ligulate 2-tooihed near the base. Capsule ventricose 



Variegated Iris' 

 Yellow and purple. "4- April— May. In ponds. Very common. 2-3 fr'^ 



3 I Trjpetala. ^em slender, columnar. Le^re^ ensiform. Floijucn so\- 

 Jtary-, e.vterior segments of the perianth large, interior very small, 3-toothed. 

 Stigmaa 2-toothed near the base. Caitsule obscurely angled. 



Purple. % Apnl — May. Soutliern Ga. and JFlonda. 2-3 ft. 



4 I Heiagona. 6Vem columnar, flexuous. i^/o/a')» solitary, exterior seg- 

 ments of the perianth, spatulate, reHc.xed, variegated at the base with purple 

 and white, the exterior ones erect, spatulate. Oipside hexagonal, yentricose. 



Blue. % May — July. In swamps in the low country. 2 ft. 



5 1 CcPREA. Stem erect, angled on one side. Leaves ensiform axillary ; 

 the exterior segments of the perianth obovate, cmarginate, the interior small- 

 er. Stigmas with a membranaceous margin. Cajtsule ventricose, hexagonal. 



Tawney. ll| April — May. In marshes ot lower Ga. and Florida. 



Gexus II SISYRINXHIUM. 



Perianth 6-leaved. Stamens usually monadelphous, 3. 

 Capsule triangular, projecting out of the spathe. With grass- 

 like leaves. 



1 S MucRONATCM- S/^m simple, compressed. Leacc* narrow, acute, usu- 

 ally tinned with blue. Floicers m terminal clusters. Spathe colored, 2-leav- 

 ed, with a partial sheath at the base of each peduncle. leaves of the peri- 

 anth emarginate, niucronate. Style triquetrous. Capsule 3-valved. 3-celled, 

 manv seeded. 



Blue '^. June — July. Damp soils. Mountains. 4-6 in. 



2 S Bermudia.na. Stem erect, compressed, glabrous, divided at the sum- 

 mit. Leaves ensiform, glabrous. Flowers in terminal racemes. Spathe 2- 

 leaved, with a small spathe at the base of each peduncle. Leaves of the pe- 

 rianth emari.'inaie, mucronate, pubescent. Capsule pubescent, 3-ceUed, 3* 

 valved, many seeded- 



Blue. % March— May. Damp soils. 12-18 in. 



3 S A-icEK. Stem com ', winged, simple. Ideates ensiform, radi- 

 cle, floirer* m clusters. '" -leaved, unequal; L«apM of the perianth 

 mucronate. 



Blue- t\. July — August. Dry soils. 8-12 inches. 

 P.\BT II. 19 



