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IRIS BARBATA, COMMONLY CALLED GERMAN IRIS. 
IRIS BARBATA, THE BEARDED IRIS, COMMONLY CALLED GERMAN OR FLAG IRIS. 
Our collection of this Section of Iris has been pronounced 
the most complete in England, and in "The Garden” of 
August 29th, 1874, a lengthened, classified, and descriptive list 
is given of the varieties we have flowered. Those we enumerate 
in this list are a selection from upwards of 200 varieties. The 
better to understand our descriptions, we furnish a woodcut, 
and it will be observed from it that three of the petals are 
erect — these are called Standards ; the other three droop — these 
are called Falls. The small tongued parts of the flower are 
the petaloid stigmas, under which run the " beards." The flowers 
in this Section are all large and very handsome, more or less 
beautifully mottled in the standards, and reticulated in the falls ; 
the beards ranging from delicate primrose to orange, and the 
petaloid stigmas frequently enhancing the general effect by their 
contrast of colour. We furnish these important particulars that 
our descriptions may be the better understood, as we have not 
attempted to take in these individual points, but to deal with the 
colours which strike the eye on first looking at the flower. There 
is no flower, however, that so improves by examination. At first 
sight its beauty is equal to the Orchid, but, on closer examination, 
we have no hesitation in saying it possesses points of interest 
surpassing the finest Orchid. In colours there are the richest 
yellows, the most intense purples, the most delicate blues, the softest 
mauves, and the most beautiful claret-reds. There are whites, 
and primroses, and bronzes of every imaginable shade — indeed, 
language fails us in picturing the beauties of this flower ; and, 
consequently our descriptions fall far short of the reality ; and this will be readily understood when we state 
that there may be found in almost anyone of the flowers from 10 to 20 diffeient shades harmonizing and 
blending in such a manner as to make one perfectly enthusiastic. Those who have not used this Iris for 
surrounding artificial lakes and ponds, or cultivated it in the flower borders, shrubberies, woodland walks, 
and wild gardens, should do so. It is also most valuable wherever a large quantity of cut flowers is required 
from May to July, as plants when established, will, with good cultivation, increase in size annually till they 
attain large proportions, each plant yielding 50 to 100 spikes of bloom. 
igg* In the descriptions S. is used to signify Standards, or the erect petals ; F. Falls, or the drooping petals. 
d. A 
855 50 in 50 most superb varieties 42 
856 25 in 25 „ ,1 21 
857 12 in 12 ,, ,, 12 
858 50 in 50 very fine varieties 30 
85 D 25 in 25 ,, ,, 15 
860 i2 in 12 very fine varieties 6 s. and 9 o 
861 Choice mixed varieties per 100, 30*. ; p. doz. 4 6 
862 Fine mixed varieties per 100, 2u. ,, 36 
863 Mixed from NeglectaandPallida vars. ,, 46 
864 Mixed bronze-coloured varieties ,, 46 
We have arranged the Iris Barbata in natural gToups, to facilitate amateurs in making selections. Each 
group has a distinctive characteristic. Germanica flowers first, and is represented by the blue, purple, and white 
Flag Iris of our gardens ; they flower at the same time, and are extremely decorative in May. Aphylla, 
of the Botanical Magazine, is the Plicata of Baker, under which we include Swertii ; the Standards have 
a frill-like appearance arising from the marginal coloured transverse lines on a white ground. Anioena 
has the standards white. Neglecta has the standards purple, or approaching to purple. Pallida has the 
standards ranging from pale lavender to rose-lilac. Squalens embraces those with the bronze standards ; and 
Variegata has the standards invariably yellow. *. d. 
865 Germanica, the Blue Flag Iris [Bot. Mag.), S. blue, F. purple per ioo, 2r s. ; per doz. 3 6 
866 ,, violacea , S. purple, F. dark purple ,, ,, 30*. ,, 46 
867 ,, alba, 5 . ana F. white (l. Florentina) ,, ,, 30 s. ,, 46 
868 „ atro-purpurea, S. and F. very beautiful rich claret-purple ,, 50 ^. ,, 76 
869 ,, major, S. blue, F. purple per doz. 10s. 6 d.\ each x o 
870 ,, violacea major , S. purple, F. dark purple ,, ioj. 6 d. ; ,, 1 o 
The following commence flowering as the Germanica gToup are going out of bloom, and continue the 
succession till July. 
871 Aphylla Bridesmaid, S. vet y pale lavender, F. white , margined lavender each o 9 
872 ,, Gazelle, 5. red-lavender, mottled white, F. white, edged purple ,, o 9 
873 ,, Madame Chereau, S. white, margined blue, F. white, margined blue. ,, 1 o 
874 „ Swertii (striata), S. white, margined lavender, P. white and lavender ... ,, 09 
876 Amoeba Alice Barr, S. white , F. white, tinged lilac » r * o 
876 ,, Ariadne, S. white, mottled put pie, F. crimson, reticulated white » 10 
877 „ Aspasia, S. white, striped purple, F. purple-crimson, mottled white 1 o 
878 ,, Comte de St. Clair, S. white, F. crimson-purple, reticulated white ,, o 9 
879 ,, Donna Marla, 6 ’. white, F. white , tinged lilac ~ *, * o 
880 ,, Duchess of Nemours, S. white , F. purple , mottled white ,, 10 
881 ,, Penelope, 5. white, tinged lavender, P. white, reticulated lilac ,, o 9 
882 „ Percival Ralph, S. white, F. purple , reticulated white r» 10 
883 ,, Polteau, S. white , tinged lavender, F. very rich velvety crimson ,, 16 
884 ,, Sylvia, .S', white , F. lilac — »■» 0 9 
885 ,, Unique, S. white, F. purple, reticulated white ,> 10 
886 Neglecta (Bot. May.) S. decided lavender, F. purple mottled , with dark lines ,, o 6 
887 ,, Alice, S. pale lavender, F. rich purple, mottled white »•> 0 6 
888 ,, Augustlna, S. violet, F. red-purple - *» 10 
889 ,, amabllls, S. pale lavender % F, rich velvety purple, reticulated white , , 1 o 
890 ,, Bocaze, S. lavender , F. claret, mottled white » 06 
891 ,, Chameleon, S. rich blue, F. light crimson »> 10 
892 ,, Clare, S. lavender, F. purple- crimson, reticulated white >> * 0 
893 ,, Claris slma, .S’, purple, shading to blue, F. rich crimson, mottled white »• * 0 
894 ,, Cordelia, S. violet, F. velvety crimson-black , very large *» 16 
895 ,, Du Bols de Milan, S. light lavender, F. rich crimson * * 0 
[Barr and Son, 
