I RIS BRACHYCUSPIS. 
SHORT-POINTED IRIS. 
Order. 
MONOOYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
IRIDACE®. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Siberia. 
18 inches. 
May to July 
Perennial. 
in 1819. 
No. 789. 
Iris, the rainbow. Brachycuspis, from the Latin, 
is translated literally, short-pointed. 
A portion of the specific character of this plant 
is made dependent on the remarkably short interior 
lacinise of the corolla, which leave the flower with 
three prominent parts instead of six, as is usual. 
Their rudiments may, however, be seen, between 
the outer segments, as will he evident on close ex- 
amination of our plate. 
Seeds of this pretty Iris were brought from the 
northern part of Siberia, by Professor Adams, to 
the Gorenki gardens, and distributed thence by Dr. 
Fischer, to various parts of Europe. We are not 
aware on what grounds the bulbs are considered 
poisonous, a property that does not seem to belong 
to the order. Orris root of commerce, which is 
the rhizoma of Iris Florentina, is well known for 
its violet-like scent, and is used in hair-powder and 
tooth-powder, simply to communicate its agreeable 
fragrance. One or two species are esteemed as 
possessing aperient qualities, but none are gene- 
rally known as being deleterious. 
Iris brachycuspis requires no peculiar care. 
198 . Ency. of Plants, 46. 
Class. 
TRIANDRIA. 
