316 IRIS ORDER 



IRIDALES IRIS ORDER 

 IRIDACEAE IRIS FAMILY 



Sepals and petals 3 each, similar in color, sometimes more or less united, 

 and the tube grown to the ovary, stamens 3, inserted on the perianth, ovary 

 usually 3-celled, style 3-cleft, the branches sometimes petal-like, capsule 3- 

 celled, 3-angled or lobed ; flowers regular or irregular, solitary or clustered, 

 enclosed below by bracts ; perennial herbs with grass-like, equitant, 2-ranked 

 leaves. 



1. Sepals and petals unlike in form; flowers 2-3 in. 



long; plants 1-3 ft. tall; style branches petal- 

 like, concealing the stamens Iris 



2. Sepals and petals alike in form; flowers 1-2 cm. 



long; style-branches not petal-like; stems 4-15 



in. high Sisyrinchium 



Iris Linne 1753 Iris 

 (Gr. iris, rainbow, referring to the color of the flower) 

 PL 43, fig. 5. 

 Sepals 3, spreading or reflexed, colored like the 3 erect petals but usu- 

 ally broader and larger, stamens 3, ovary 3-celled, style-branches petal-like, 

 arched over the stamens, and bearing the stigmas under the 2-lobed tips, 

 capsule oblong or oval; flowers terminal 1-few; leaves long and grass-like, 

 equitant ; perennial herb from a rootstock. 

 Stems .5-3 ft. tall; flowers 1-2, pale blue, to purple, 



rarely white, 2-3 in. long /. missouriensis 



Sisyrinchium Linne 1753 Blue-eyed Grass 

 (Gr. sisyrinchion, a kind of iris) 

 PI. 43, fig. 1. 

 Sepals and petals 3 each, blue, similar, usually abruptly pointed, stamens 

 3, ovary 3-celled, capsule mostly globose, flowers in a terminal umbel from 

 a pair of green bracts; leaves grass-like; perennial. 

 Stems 4-15 in. high, 2-edged or 2-winged ; leaves 



mostly basal, 1-3 mm. wide; flowers 1-2 cm. wide S. angusti folium 



ORCHIDALES ORCHID ORDER 

 ORCHIDACEAE ORCHID FAMILY 



Sepals 3, similar, petals 3, 2 alike, the third usually larger and different 

 in form and color, forming a lip or sack, often spurred also, stamens 1-2, 

 united with the style into a column, pollen in 2-8 pear-shaped masses, or 



