THE IRIS. 
73 
by being divested of all suckers, are being 
prepared for blooming, it is better to encourage 
a few to produce suckers, which they will do 
abundantly ; this will be the more certain 
means of having a good supply of plants by 
the middle of February — the proper season to 
start them for their summer growth." The 
old plants are to be thrown away after flower- 
ing. Those who have not the convenience of 
a stove, may adopt the same course of treat- 
ment in a green-house. All the tender kinds 
may be similarly managed according to their 
peculiar characteristics. 
DESCRIPTIVE LIST OP IRIS. 
Iris acuta. (The acute-leaved Iris.*) — A 
hardy, herbaceous perennial, growing two feet 
high, and producing its blue flowers in May 
and June. 
Iris alata. (The winged Iris.) — A dwarf 
bulbous species, nearly hardy, growing about 
sis inches high, and bearing its flowers in 
February and March : the outer petals are 
beautifully variegated with white, purple yel- 
low and blue; the inner petals light blue, and 
rose-coloured at the margins. Native of Al- 
giers, Spain, and Portugal. 
Iris amosna. (The pleasing, or delicate 
Iris.) — A hardy herbaceous perennial, grow- 
ing about a foot high, with delicate blue flowers, 
produced in May and June. 
Iris arenaria. (The sand Iris.) — A hardy 
herbaceous perennial, growing about six inches 
high. The flowers are yellow, opening from 
May to July. Native of Hungary. 
Iris aurea. (The golden Iris.)— A hardy 
herbaceous perennial, attaining two feet in 
height, with yellow flowers in May and June. 
It is a native of Germany. 
Iris biflora. (The two-flowered Iris.) — A 
hardy herbaceous perennial, growing a foot 
and half high, and producing purple flowers 
in April and May. Native of the South of 
Europe. 
Iris biglumis. (The two-glumed Iris.) — A 
hardy herbaceous perennial, growing about 
three inches high, and producing blue flowers 
in May and June. Native of Siberia. 
Iris Slondoroii. (Blondow's Iris.) — A hardy 
herbaceous perennial, of which but little is 
known ; it is from the Altaic mountains. 
Iris Boltoniana. (Bolton's Iris.) — A hardy 
herbaceous perennial, growing two feet high, 
with blue flowers, which are produced in May 
and June. Native of North America. This 
is also called I. gracilis. 
Iris bohemica. (The Bohemian Iris.) — A 
* The Irises are also distinguished by the English 
name of Flag : and the French name, fleur-de-lis, whence 
flower-dc-hnw 
hardy herbaceous perennial, growing a foot 
high. The flowers are blue, produced in May 
and June. Native of Bohemia. 
Iris brachycuspis. (The poisonous-rooted 
Iris.) — A hardy herbaceous perennial, of mo- 
derate size, with long sword-like leaves, and 
small purple flowers. It blooms from May to 
July. It is native of the north-eastern parts 
of Siberia. 
Iris caucasica. (The Caucasian Iris.) — A 
hardy bulbous species, growing six inches 
high, and bearing yellow flowers in March. 
Native of the Caucasus. 
Iris cki.nensis. (The Chinese Iris.) — A 
half-hardy perennial herbaceous plant, grow- 
ing two feet high, with broad leaves, and 
handsome fringed light purplish rose-coloured 
flowers. It flowers in May and June. Native 
of China. It bears the cold of ordinary win- 
ters : called also I. Jimbriata. 
Iris clandestina. (The clandestine Iris.) — 
A green-house, evergreen herbaceous plant, 
growing about a foot high, and flowering in 
May. Native of Brazil. 
Iris ccelestina. (The sky-blue Iris.) — A 
half-hardy herbaceous perennial, attaining a 
foot and a half in height. The flowers are 
pale blue, opening in June. Native of North 
America. 
Iris crassifoliu. (The thick-leaved Iris.) — 
A small growing green-house herbaceous pe- 
rennial, with long leaves, and beautiful white 
flowers; the three outer segments with a blotch 
of deep yellow, and the inner ones with an 
oblong dash of blue along the centre : a very 
beautiful species. It is a native of the Cape 
of Good Hope, and flowers sparingly in July 
and August. 
Iris cristata. (The crested Iris.) — This is 
a dwarf, hardy herbaceous perennial, growing 
six inches high, with short sword-like leaves, 
and pale lilac flowers, with an oblong -dash of 
yellow, bordered with purple down the base of 
the three expanding segments ; the tube is 
unusually long and brittle. Flowers in May 
and June. Native of North America. 
Iris curtopctala. (The short-petalled Iris.) 
— A hardy herbaceous perennial, growing a 
foot and a half high. It lias yellow and blue 
flowers. Blooms in May and June ; called 
Vieitsseu.via iridioides . 
Iris deflexa. (The deflexed Iris.) — A 
green-house, or half-hardy herbaceous peren- 
nial, growing a foot and a half high. It has 
lilac-coloured flowers which open in June. 
Native of Nepal : nearly allied to I. stibbi- 
fiora. 
Iris dickotoma. (The two-forked Iris.) — 
A hardy herbaceous perennial, growing a foot 
and a half high, with pale bluish purple flowers, 
opening in July and August. Native of 
Dauiiu. This is a most curious species, and 
