XC. LRIDACEAS. 
440 
| \Fris. 
cauline, sometimes radical. Flowers spathaceous, sometimes partly 
subterranean. — Orris-root is from Iris Florentina. 
1. Iris. Perianth regular 6-cleft; alternate segments longer and re- 
flexed. Stigmas petaloid, covering and opposite to the stamens. 
Stamens distinct. (Leaves distichous.) 
l a . Sisyrinchium. Perianth 6-cleft; segments nearly equal, patent; 
tube scarcely longer than the limb. Style short. Stigmas fili- 
form, alternating with the stamens. Stamens monadelphous. 
(Leaves distichous.) 
2. Gladiolus. Perianth 6-cleft, almost in two lips. Style filiform. 
Stigmas entire, widening upwards, canaliculate. Stamens distinct, 
ascending. (Leaves distichous.) 
3. Trichone.ma. Perianth 6-cleft ; segments equal ; tube shorter than 
the limb ; style filiform. Stigmas bipartite, slender. Stamens 
distinct. (Leaves radical.) 
4. Crocus. Perianth 6-cleft; segments equal; tube very long (much 
longer than the limb). Style filiform. Stigmas widening up- 
wards, plaited, sometimes united to the middle. Stamens dis- 
tinct. (Leaves radical.) 
1. I'ris Linn. Iris. Flower-de-luce. 
Perianth regular 6-cleft, each alternate segment longer and 
reflexed. Stamens distinct. Stigmas 3, petaloid-dilated, 
covering the stamens and opposite to them. — Named from 
un<:, the rainbow , on account of the beautiful and varied 
colours of its flowers. 
1 . I. Pseud-acorus L. ( yellow Water /., or Flag) ; leaves 
sword-shaped, perianth beardless its inner segments smaller 
than the stigmas, stem terete, seeds angled. E. B. t. 578. 
Watery places, wet meadows and in woods, frequent. 2f. 5 — 8. 
— Flowers large, deep (or rarely pale) yellow ( Bot . May. t. 2239). 
Rhizome large, very acrid. 
2. I. fcetidissima L. ( fetid I., or Gladdon) ; leaves sword- 
shaped, perianth beardless its inner segments spreading about as 
large as the stigmas, stem one-angled, seeds globose. E. B. t. 
596. 
Woods, thickets, and pastures; frequent in the western and southern 
parts of England, particularly in Devonshire ; rare in the middle and 
northern counties. South of Ireland. Not found in Scotland, p . 
5 — 7. — Flowers much smaller than the last, dull livid purple, or 
very rarely yellow. The leaves, when bruised, emit a very disagree- 
able odour, which some have compared to roast-beef, whence its 
common English name, roast-beef plant. 
[/ris tuberosa L. (E. B. S. t. 281 8)- is a native of the Levant and 
other countries bordering on the Mediterranean, formerly cultivated 
for its medicinal properties, and cannot be admitted into our flora, 
although established about Penzance and near Cork. For the same 
reason we scarcely deem I. Xiphium, /. xiphioides, I. pumila, I. Susiana, 
