22 
THE BEARDED 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 Aug. 29 th, 1874, a lengthened, classified, and descrip- 
tive list is given of the varieties vre have flowered. Those we enume- 
rate 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 
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 delicateprimrose to orange, and the petaloid 
stigmas frequently enhancing the general effect by their contrast of 
colour. We furnish these important particulars that our descrip- 
tions 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, tliat 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 intensest 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 any one of the flowers from 10 to 20 different 
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, shmbberies, 
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. 
IV* In the descriptions S. is used to signify Standards, or the erect petals ; F., Falls, or the drooping petals. 
s. d. 
1099 Choice mixed varieties per 100 , 30 i. ; p. doz, 4 6 
1093 $0 in 50 most superb varieties 
1094 25 in 25 ,, ,, 
1096 12 in 12 ,, ,, 
1096 50 in 50 very fine varieties 
1097 25 in 25 ,, ,, 
1098 12 in 12 
30 
IS 
6^. and 9 
1100 Fine mixed varieties per 100 , 21 s. 
1101 Common mixed per 100 , lor. 6d. 
1102 Mixed blue and white varieties ... 
1103 Mixed bronze vaiieties 
1104 Mixed yellow varieties 
We have arranged the Iris Barbata in natural groups 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. Amcena 
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 standards bronzed ; and 
Variegata has the standards invariably yellow. 
1105 Germanica, the Blue Flag Iris {Bot. Mag.), S. blue, P. purple per 100 , 10 s. 6d. ; per doz, 
vlolacea, S. purple. F. darkpuiple ,, „ 2 ir. od. ,, 
alba, .S. and F. wkite(\. Florentina) ,, ,, 2 ir. od. „ 
S. astd F. very beatiiiful rich claret purple ... ,, ,, 30 J. oi. ,, 
major, S, blue, F, purple per doz. 10 s. 6d. 
Yioldi.ce2Lm3i)OT, S. purple, F. darh purple ,, 10 s. 6d. 
The following commence flowering as the Germanica group goes out of bloom, and continue the succes- 
sion till July. . , i. 
Xlll Aphylla (Bot. Mag.), S. creamy white, margined dull lilac, F. white, margined lilac each i c 
1112 ,, Agathe, S. whitCy matgined and mottled lavender, F.wkite margined lavender.. * ' 
1113 ,, Beauty, S. white, margined lilac, F. white, upper part red-lilac 
1114 „ Bridesmaid, S. very pale lavender, F. white, margined lavender 
1115 ,, Gazelle, S. red-lavender, mottled white, F. white, ed^ed purple 
1116 ,, Madame Chereau, S. white, margined blue, F. white, margined blue 
1117 ,, [striata), S. white, margined lavender, F. white and lavender 
1118 Amoena [Sweet), S. white, tinged lavender, F. white, slightly margined lilac 
1106 
1107 
1108 
1109 
1110 
each 
1119 
1120 
1121 
1122 
1123 
1124 
1125 
1126 
1127 
1128 
1129 
1130 
1131 
1132 
1133 
Alice Barr, S. white, F. white, tinged lilac 
Alvarez, S. white, mottled put pie, F. crimson, reticulated white . 
Aspasia, S. white, striped purple. F. purple-crimson, mottled white .. 
Calypso, S. white, F. mottled purple and white 
Cerbere, S. white, F. crimson-purple, reticulated white 
Clio, S. white, F. purple 
Comte de St. Clair, S. white, F. crimson-purple, reticulated white .. 
Donna Marla, S. white, F. white, tinged lilac 
Duchess of Nemours, S. white, F. purple, mottled white 
Duchess of Orleans, S. white, F. crimson-purple, mottled white 
Glorletta, S. white, tinged lilac, F. white, stained crimson 
Morpheus, S. white, hnged lavender, F. violet, heavily mottled white.. 
Penelope, S. white, tinged lavender, F. white, reticulated lilac 
reticulata alba, S. white, F. purple-crimson, reticulated white 
unique, S. white, F. purple, reticulated white . 
1134 Neglecta [Bot, Afa^.) S. decided lavender, F. purple mottled, with dark lines . 
\_Barr and SugdeUy 
