THE 
BRITISH HERBAL. 
CLASS XXX. 
Plants whofe flower is confpicuous^ and of an irregular flruElure \ whofi 
" leaves are gf^affy-i and whofe roots are not hdbous^ 
THESE are diilinguifhed by Nature as perfeftly as the preceding from ali other plants. Their 
leaves have the afpeft of thofe of the bulbous tribe ; but their roots are cither mafly and ir- 
regular, or formed of double parts, or of implicated fibres, rifing from a thick head. 
This diftinifhion of Nature Ray and others have followed, calling them herb^ bulbofis affines, and 
keeping them together in one clafs. But Linnsus has fcattered them over different parts of his worksj 
caking his characters not from thefe larger parts, but from the threads in the flower. 
SERIES I. 
British Genera, 
Thofe of which one or more fpecies are found wild in this country. 
GENUS I. 
FLAG-FLOWER. 
IRIS. 
'X'HE root is mafiy and irregular. The leaves are edged as fwords. The flower is formed of 
one petal, divided into fix parts : three of thefe ftand outward, and turn back ; and the other 
three are placed inward, and are ere6t. The feed-veffel is oblong, and angulated, 
Linnreus places this among the triandria monogynia, the filaments in the flower being three, and the 
fl;y]e fingle. 
DIVISION I. BRITISH SPECIES. 
1. Common Flag-Flower. 
Iris lutea vulgaris. 
The root is brown, thick, and creeping. 
The leaves are very long, fomewhat broad, of 
a pale green, edged on each fide, and fharp- 
pointed. 
The ifalk is a yard high, of a pale green, and 
befec with a few fliorter leaves. 
The flowers are large and yellow. 
It is common by water, and flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Acariis adidterlms. Others, 
Iris palujlris lutea. 
The dried roots are diuretick, and good againft 
obfl:ruflions of the vifcera. 
2. Whitifli Fiag-Flower. 
Iris pallidior. 
The root is thick, and fpreads irregularly un- 
der the furface. 
The 
