PURPLE IRIS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
as plain. The chief siiigle colours are purple, 
blue, yellow, and white. 
The Iris is, in general, a hardy plant, and 
will grow and increase almost any wliere ; but, 
the better the soil, the more it wnll flourish. 
Those who have large gardens may afford 
these flowers room; hut most of them are 
better suited for the borders of the fruit than 
of the flower-garden, as they take up much, 
ground which might be occupied by better 
plants. They have, however, in some situa- 
tions, a very agreeable eftect. 
Gerard, at the end of his Flower de Luces, 
mentions the Sisyrnicliium, o-r SpaRish Nut, 
as a kindred plant. It has a round netted root, 
like the Cloth of Gold Crocus; and bears^ 
in it's natural situation, which is on the sea- 
coasts of Spain and Portugal, several small 
quicklv-fading flowers, having the parts of a 
Flower de Luce. This flower, howeverT^is to 
us of but little importance: since it will not 
tlirive when transplanted; nor, as it is said, 
grow at all in our climate. 
