THE APOGON SECTION 
This section of the Iris genus has already been defined at p. 13 as containing all those species of 
rhizomatous Irises, in which the central line of the falls is either smooth or only covered with a 
pubescence of unicellular processes. 
It seems, unfortunately, impossible to select any one character or set of characters to form a guide 
through the maze of species. The nearest approach to such a character is found in the seeds, but, 
besides the fact that these are often missing in herbarium specimens, those of a few species, such as 
Bungei and Rossii, are still undescribed. Moreover, the seeds of the species in each group are readily 
distinguishable and have only a certain family likeness, which indeed in some cases is only apparent to 
the practised eye. 
The classification of the Apogon species given below is therefore admittedly unsatisfactory, partly 
for the reasons already given, and partly also because some of the species seem to stand by themselves 
and to have little affinity to any others. Under each heading in the following list an attempt is made 
to give the chief characteristics of the species included. 
I. The sibirica group has seven representatives in Eastern Asia, one in Europe and one in America. 
Stems hollow (except in I. Clarkei and /. prismatica) ; capsule trigonal ; seeds disc-shaped, 0 -shaped, 
or cubical ; leaves thin and grassy ; perianth tube short, not smooth but obviously formed of the con- 
cretion of the bases of the segments. Stigma a projecting triangular tongue. See p. 19. 
II. The tenuifolia group. This group of Central Asiatic Irises consists of plants with short un- 
branched stems, and rigid, linear leaves. The growths are very crowded and the bases of the leaves 
seem to persist for several years, and form dense bundles which in the wild state have the appearance 
of being either burnt or browsed off. The root fibres are very wiry. [N.B. I. songanca seems to be 
a connecting link between this group and the spuria group.] See p. 32. 
III. The Californian group. Rhizomes slender, root-fibres few in number. Leaves tough and 
leathery, scanty, pink at the base. Seeds light brown or buff, spherical, thick 0 -shaped or even almost 
cubical. The dying leaves turn a dull red, quite distinct from the usual brown colour of withering 
Iris foliage. See p. 35. 
IV. The Syrian group. Rhizome annulate and surrounded with stiff bristles. Spathes very long 
and narrow, one flowered with the pedicel equal in length to the spathe. See p. 45. 
V. The Chinese group consists of four species of slender growth, of which apparently only one is 
in cultivation. I. minuta and /. Henryi are probably allied to one another. The other two are 
grouped with them by reason of their geographical proximity and not of any known structural affinity. 
See p. 46. 
VI. The scarlet-seeded Iris. The single character of the scarlet seeds, that remain attached to the 
open capsule, seems sufficient to separate I. foelidissima from all other species. Confined to Europe 
and North Africa. See p. 50. 
VII. I. ruthenica with its dwarf grassy growth and prominent white excrescence on the fresh 
seeds seems also to stand entirely alone. This species is found in Hungary, in the Altai region, and 
thence eastwards as far as Pekin. See p. 52. 
VIII. I. unguieularis is distinguished by its tough foliage, close-matted growth, long perianth tube 
and undeveloped stem, and also by the curious and characteristic processes that cover the upper surface 
of the style branches. See p. 54. 
The type is found in Algeria but subspecies also occur in Greece, Crete and Asia Minor, as far 
east as Alexandretta and Lazistan. See p. 56. 
IX. The spuria group. The chief characteristics of this group are the double ribs at the 
angles of the capsules, the loose parchment-like skins of the seeds, the two-toothed stigma, and the 
panduriform outer segments. Leaves ensiform, tough, emitting a slightly fetid odour when bruised. 
Its representatives are widely distributed through Europe and Asia as far east as Kashmir. See 
P- 57 - 
X. The laevigata group. Seeds more or less 0 -shaped, with smooth polished skins. This group 
is represented in Eastern America, Europe and Eastern Asia. See p. 72. 
