472 IRIDACE/E. (iKIS FAMILY.) 



7. T. recurvata, Fursh. Leaves scurfy, bristlc-awl-shaped, curved, nearly 

 terete, shorter than the stem ; stein naked above, 1 - 2-flowercd ; corolla longer 

 than the calyx. — East Florida, Lcconte. — Stem 6' high. Leaves ash-color, 2- 

 ranked, narrowly channelled. 



* * Stems Jill form, pendent : fowers solitary, green. 



8. T. USneoides, L. (LONG MOSS.) Scurfy and hoary; stems (1°- 2° 

 long) branching ; leaves 2-ranked, linear-awl-shaped, recurved ; Mowers sessile 

 at the summit of the brandies, small ; sepals longer than the bracts, half as long 

 as the linear recurved green petals. — Humid situations in the lower districts, 

 Florida to North Carolina, and westward. June - Sept. 



Order 147. IRIDACE^L (Iris Family.) 



Herbs, with linear or sword-shaped equitant nerved leaves, and fuga- 

 cious often showy flowers from a 2-lcaved spatlie. — Perianth (i-parted, 

 the divisions spreading and equal, or the inner ones smaller, convolute in 



the bud. Stamens 3, distinct or united : anthers extrorse. Ovary adnate 

 to the tube of tbc perianth, 3-eelled ; the numerous anatropous ovules 

 fixed to the central placenta?. Style single : stigmas 3. Capsule loeuli- 

 eidally 3-valved. Embryo in tbe axis of fleshy albumen. 



Synopsis. 



1. IRIS. Stigmas petal-like, covering the stamens : capsule angular. 



2. SISYUIXC IITUM. Stigmas filiform : capsule globular : stem flat. 



3. NEMASTYLIS. Stigmas filiform, 2-parted : stem terete. 



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



Perianth corolla-like, G-parted, the exterior divisions recurved, and often 

 crested or bearded within, the interior mostly smaller and erect. Stamens 3, 

 opposite the outer divisions of the perianth, concealed by the dilated petal-like 

 2-lipped spreading stigmas. Style 3-angled. Capsule 3-G-angled. Seed nu- 

 merous, flattened, packed in 2 rows in the cells. — Perennial herbs, with creep- 

 ing or tuberous rootstocks, simple or branched stems, linear or sword-shaped 

 leave.-, and showy flowers from a scarious spatlie. 



# Stems tdll, h<f;i : divisions of the perianth unequal. 



1. I. versicolor, L. Stem nearly terete, simple or branched; leaves 

 sword-shaped ; flowers terminal, single or spiked, crestless ; perianth pate blue, 

 variegated with white, yellow, and purple, the inflated tube shorter than the 

 obtnsely 3-anglcd ovary ; stigmas 2-toothed at the base, wkh the lips entire, or 

 slightly crenate ; capsule oblong, obtusely 3-angled. — Wet places, Florida, and 

 northward. April and May. — Stem U° - 2° high. Lowest leaves 1 J-° - 2° 

 long, V - l V wide. Perianth 2' long. 



2. I. hexagona, Walt Stem terete, simple ; leaves linear-sword-shaped; 



flowers axillary and terminal, solitary, crested ; perianth deep blue, variegated 

 with white, yellow, and purple ; the cylindrical angular tube longer than the 



