I'RIH VIRGIN'ICA. 
VIRGINIAN IRIS. 
Cluix. Order. 
TRIANDBIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
IRIDEjE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
liitroduccil 
N. America. 
15 inches. 
June, July . 
Perennial. 
in 1758. 
No. 3-27. 
Some per.sons have conjectured that the word Iris 
was first used, botanically, in allusion to the eye, 
which is known by this name in the Egyptian lan- 
guage ; there is, however, more probability that the 
colour of the rainbow gave rise to its use, amongst 
the ancients, as the name of a plant. Virginica, from 
Virginia, one of theUnited States of America, whence, 
we presume, it was first brought to England. 
There is scarcely any genus which affords to the 
flower garden so extensive a variety of handsome 
subjects as that of the Iris. From twenty to thirty 
newly-discovered Irises have been introduced to this 
country within the last few years, which extend the 
genus, at the present time, to about eighty distinct 
species. Their hardy character also yields them ad- 
ditional claims to the notice of those whose chief at- 
tention is given to the healthy pursuit of cultivating 
the open flower garden. Though by far the greater 
portion of these belong to Europe, still every quarter 
of the globe has contributed to the gratification of 
the collector of them. 
It may be divided at the root, in spring. An open 
easterly aspect, and sandy loam, should be preferred. 
Hurt. Kew. 2, v. 1, 116, 
