MIDSUMMER 73 



dalmatica are the next to bloom ; the flowers are of 

 two shades of clear pale-bluish lavender-lilac. 



Iris flavescens. The type, whose flowers are all of 

 a clear pale yellow, I think a better plant than any of 

 the varieties, though many of these are desirable. 



Iris variegata. This family also has a yellow 

 ground colour, stronger than in Jlavescens ; a deeper 

 coloured, all-yellow variety called /. variegata aurea is 

 a grand garden plant, and others, veined and clouded 

 with crimson-brown on the broad lower petals, are 

 highly desirable. 



Iris amcena has the upright petals always white, 

 while the lower ones are veined or largely blotched 

 with purple of various shades. 



Iris neglecta. In this section the upright petals 

 are lavender-coloured or grey-lavender, and the falling 

 ones purple, or some shade of purple with white 

 veining. 



Iris aphylla. These have all a white or nearly 

 white ground throughout; the upright petals are 

 strongly waved at the edge ; both these and the lower 

 ones are beautifully pencilled with delicate colourings 

 of tender bluish-lilac. 



Iris sqiialens. The children of this family may be 

 known by either clearly-defined colouring of smoky 

 bronze in the upright part of the flower, or some sus- 

 picion of the same, while the lower petals are usually 

 heavily veined and blotched with purple or brownish- 

 red. Though some of the best growers have of late 



