174 



THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



them to expect stores of sweets. The 

 broad expanse of the reflexed sepal is a 

 convenient alighting place, whilst the 

 converging lines of colour guide them 

 to the luscious reservoir, for now it is 

 well-known that not only have bees a 

 perception of colour, but that without 

 these leading strings or land marks 

 they would often spend a long time in 

 searching for food which is easily 

 within reach. In this case the erect 

 incurved petals prevent straying to 

 either side, whilst the fringed tip of 

 the style effectually hinders them 

 clambering over the top. Compelled 

 therefore to burrow under the arch of 

 the style, they must also of necessity 

 press against the back of the anther, 

 which is the side on which it opens, 

 and thus getting their bodies dusted 

 with pollen, it is easily conveyed to the 

 stigmatic surface, in either the same 

 or other flowers, as it lies immediately 

 above the level of the anther. In /. 

 germanica popularly known as "Jacob's 

 sword," and which is exceedingly 

 common in herbaceous borders and 

 cottage gardens, and therefore easily 

 available for examination, the plan of 

 the flower is the same, but the entrance 

 to the nectary on the threshold of the 

 sepal, is bearded with hairs, a repelling 

 barrier to small flies and beetles, and 

 the petals equal the sepals in size. The 

 ovary of the iris is inferior, appearing 

 at first like a three ribbed stalk, sup- 

 porting the flower, after fertilisation it 



increases greatly in size, attaining a 

 length of three inches, with a diameter 

 of an inch. A cross section shows 

 three cavities with the seeds attached 

 to the inner axil of the triangular cell. 

 When mature the capsule opens by 

 three longitudinal fissures down the 

 centre of each cell, disclosing 

 the three rows of numerous large 

 pea-like seeds, which are very 

 much flattened by their close packing. 

 They are of a bright orange colour, which 

 makes them attractive to birds, who, 

 doubtless, aid in dispersing them. 

 They have also been used as a substi- 

 tute for coffee. 



The economic uses of the Iris are 

 not numerous. One old writer says it 

 should not be allowed to grow where 

 cattle feed, but why, I cannot say, for 

 I am not aware that they eat it, or 

 even if they did that it would prove 

 injurious. With the older herbalists 

 it had a considerable reputation as a 

 remedy for various ailments. One 

 goes even so far as to assert that if 

 dropsy can be cured by the hand of 

 man, the Iris will do it. At one time 

 it had a place in the pharmacopeia, 

 but latterly seems to have been dropped 

 for more fashionable if not more potent 

 remedies. 



In the language of flowers various 

 meanings are attached to the different 

 species, as " the flame of passion/' " a 

 message/' " I burn." The Iris is the 

 floral emblem or national flower of 



