222 DICTIOISrABY OF POPULAR NAMES IRIS 



in many parts of Brazil. Attempts have recently been made 

 to introduce it into India and Ceylon, and plants were first 

 sent to Ceylon from Kew in 1848. Since then its cultiva- 

 tion has been tried in different parts of India. The nature of 

 the plant, however, seems to indicate that it would grow better 

 in a wild state than under cultivation. Several other plants are 

 used as substitutes for true Ipecacuanha. 1. Ricliardsonia rosea 

 and R scabra, strong-rooted perennial decumbent herbs of the 

 Cinchona family (Cinchonaceas), natives of Brazil, where they are 

 called Poaga de Campo. B. rosed is extensively cultivated for 

 the sake of its roots, which come to Europe. B, scabra is known 

 as White Ipecacuanha. 2. Psychotrico emetica, a small tree of 

 the Cinchona family (Cinchonacese), native of Peru, where it is 

 called Striated Ipecacuanha, but it is of an inferior quality to 

 true Ipecacuanha. 



Iris, the botanical name of an extensive genus of herbs, the 

 type of the order Iridacese. The root-stock is a fleshy creeping 

 rhizome, from which rise sword-shaped leaves and flower-stems 

 bearing showy flowers of various colours, all highly ornamental 

 garden plants. About 100 species are recorded in books, all 

 being natives of the north temperate zone. I, gerraanica, the 

 common blue Iris, known as Pleur-de-Luce, was the emblem of 

 the French kings. /. florentina, native of the South of Europe, 

 furnishes the bulk of the sweet -smelling Orris-root of per- 

 fumery. The genus is represented in Britain by the common 

 yellow Iris (J. pseudacorus) and J. fcetidissima, known by the 

 name of Stinking G-ladwyn. 



Iron-bark. (See Eucalyptus.) 



Ironwood. — Not less than between 20 and 30 different 

 kinds of trees are in various countries called Ironwoods, of which 

 the following are a few : — 



Ironwood, Bourbon (Stadtmannia Sideroxylon), a wing-leaved 

 tree of the Soapberry family (Sapindacea^), native of Mauritius 

 and Bourbon. 



Ironwood, Indian {Xylia doldbriformis), formerly Inga 

 Xylocarpa, a lofty straight-stemmed tree, with bipinnate leaves. 



