IRIS FAMILY. Irldacet 



divisions of the shell fall in August, the blackberrylike, 

 fleshy-coated, black seeds are exposed to view. The name 

 is East Indian. 2-4 feet high. The plant has escaped 

 from gardens to roadsides and low hills, from south N. 

 Y. and Pa., south to Ga., and west to Ind. and Mo. 



A stiff grasslike little plant with linear. 

 pale blue 'S reen leaves less than the some- 

 Sisyrinchium w ^at twisted and flat flower-stem in 

 angustifolium height. The flowers are perfect, with a 

 Deep violet- prominent pistil, and three stamens; the 

 blue six divisions are blunt and tipped with a 



thornlike point ; they are violet-blue, or 

 sometimes white ; the centre of the flower is beautifully 

 marked with a six-pointed white star accented with 

 bright golden yellow, each one of the star-points pene- 

 trating the deeper violet-blue of the petallike division. 

 The flower is mostly cross-fertilized by bees, and the 

 beelike flies (Syrphidce). Seed capsule globular. The 

 name is Greek in origin, and is meaningless. 6-13 in- 

 ches high. In fields and moist meadows, common from 

 Me., south to Va., and west. 



A similar species which has usually two 

 Stout Blue- unequal branches springing from a con- 

 ^syrincTium spumous grasslike leaf ; the leaves a trifle 

 anceps woolly and very light green ; less stiff than 



Deep violet- those of the preceding species, and some- 

 blue what wider. The flower petals are also 



sparsely woolly on the outer surface. 8-16 

 inches high. In grassy places, and sometimes on the bor- 

 ders of woods, from Mass., south, and southwest to La. 



A tall, bending species, similar to the 

 Eastern lie- p recet j m g 5 but lighter green and somewhat 

 Sisyrinchium woolly ; a slenderer and weaker stem, some- 

 Atlanticum times nearly 2 feet long, and reclining, ter- 

 Violet-blue minating in two or three almost equal 

 May-June branches. Leaves very narrow, bracts 

 somewhat purplish and dry papery ; the flower a trifle 

 smaller, the outside somewhat woolly. The seeds but 

 slightly pitted or nearly smooth. In wet meadows or 

 brackish marshes or sandy soil, from Me. to Fla., near the 

 coast. (Bicknell, Torrey Bot. Club Bull. 23 : 134. 1896.) 

 66 



