476 
THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
■usually found in meadows or orchards, but its white “ snow- 
bells” may well remind us of Mrs. Barbauld's lines — 
“ As Flora’s breath, by some transforming power. 
Had changed an icicle into a flower.” 
The mucilaginous root is said to be nutritious, and it has 
been suggested that salep may be made from it ; but it would 
be difficult to get it in sufficient quantity to render it of any 
commercial value, except for garden decoration, for which 
purpose its bulbs are sold in thousands. 
The Irids are represented by many very showy garden 
flowers, as the gladiolus, sparaxis, ixia, and the many species 
of garden iris ; but we prefer directing attention to two 
native genera, iris and crocus, as representatives of the order. 
The genus Iris is well known by its two native illustra- 
tions, namely, I.pseud-acorus, the yellow-water iris or yellow 
flag, and /. fcetidissima, the foetid or stinking iris. These 
forms, as well as the foreign ones, have thickened rhizomes , 
and it is this part which forms the well-known I. Florentina, 
the Florentine iris, so much used in perfumery, the powder 
of which, from its perfume, getting the name of violet powder. 
In commerce this is termed “ orris root.” 
The root of the yellow flag is said to possess errhine 
qualities, and it is sometimes chewed for toothache. 
It was much used in ancient times as a medicine, as 
Gerarde observes that ff it doth mightilie and vehementlie 
draw forth choler.” It is not now so employed ; indeed, we 
never heard of its use even in rustic practice. 
The Iris fcetidissima , or stinking iris, is a common wild 
plant near the sea. It is also found in several stations now 
remote from the sea, as far up on banks now retired from 
the present River Severn, in Gloucester — high up on the 
banks of the Yeo, in Dorsetshire ; in these and other like 
stations it forms a part of the evidence which goes to prove 
that the older rivers were within the reach of the tide, miles 
further up than is the case at present. It is remarkable for 
the bright orange-coloured seeds. The seeds of the I. pseud- 
acorus are green, and roasted as coffee are said to be good and 
wholesome. The I. foetidissima “ is remarkable,” as stated 
by Dr. Syme, “ for a very pecular scent, and has been em- 
ployed in medicine as a powerful cathartic ; it is very power- 
ful and cathartic. It is very acrid and violent in its action, 
and not to be recommended. A common English name given 
to the plant is that of f the roast-beef plant/ owing to the 
smell, which is said by the peasantry to resemble roast beef. 
Linnaeus, when he gave the plant its present specific name, 
must have had a very different idea of its savoury odour.” 
