116 
The Oncocyclus Section 
(?)/. Cosniae, Hort ex Garden, XLVir. p. 351 (1895). 
[This is described as a Cushion Iris — a popular name for an Oncocyclus — with a fine large flower 
standards clear yellow with dark purple markings at the base and falls of the same shade 
pencilled with purple. The plant was only known as flowering in Ware’s garden.] 
fVar. Mariae. See also Observations infra. 
Synonyms. 
I. Mariae, Barbey in OBZ. XL. p. 207 (1891)'. 
•Gartenflora, 1893, p. 488, t. 1394 A. 
•Bull. Soc. Tosc. Ort. 1893, t 7. 
/. Helcnae, Barbey, Herbor. Levant, p. 159 (1882). 
Boiss. FI. Or. v. p. 132 (1884). 
Distribution. The desert region between Egypt and Palestine. 
El Arisch, 1880, Barbey (K). 
El Ajrah to Esh Showahin, 1882, Post (BM). 
Wadi el Abiad, 1882, Post (K). 
Diagnosis. 
/. Barnumae Oncocyclus ; planta magnitudine I. ibericae sed flores concolores aut purpurei aut flavi. 
Description. The description is based on Foster’s original specimens (MS.). 
Rootstock , a small rhizome, of somewhat straggling growth. 
Leaves, slender, linear, about 6 in. long, slightly glaucous, erect or but little falcate. 
Stem, varying in length from 2 to 6 in., the longer stems bearing one reduced leaf. 
Spal/ic valves, narrow, pointed, reaching above the tube, deeply flushed with purple at the tip and 
extreme edge, 1 -flowered, 2 in. long. 
Pedicel, short. 
Ovary, cylindrical trigonous, nearly an inch long. 
Tube, about £ inch. 
Falls. The lanceolate blade is not separated by any marked constriction from the cuneate haft. 
The colour is a dark vinous red purple with darker veins. The large triangular beard consists of close 
set thin yellow hairs tipped with purple, it is flanked by a few scattered hairs on either side. 2± in. long, 
i£ broad. 
Standards. The orbicular blade narrows suddenly to a short canaliculate haft. The edges of the 
connivent blades are reflexed outwards and the haft bears a few hairs on the inner side. The colour is 
red purple, somewhat lighter than that of the falls with more conspicuous darker veins. 3^ in. long 
by 2^ broad. 
Styles, nearly horizontal, dotted with purple on a brownish yellow ground ; under surface yellow. 
Crests, triangular, much recurved, finely serrate, red purple with deeper veins. 
Stigma, semicircular with serrate purple edge. 
Filaments, short. 
Anthers, longer than the filaments. 
Pollen, yellow. 
Capsule, ellipsoid, trigonal, tapering at either end. 
Seeds, of the usual Oncocyclus type, dark brown, wrinkled, pyriform, with conspicuous pale aril. 
Fragrance, very noticeable in a warm atmosphere. 
Observations. 
The original plants from which the description is taken were obtained in the hills about two hours' 
journey from Van. Others that Foster received from Urumiah in 1887 had a dark purple almost black 
beard, but I have no doubt that the colour of the hairs in an Iris beard is a very untrustworthy character. 
It has been known to vary from year to year in the same individuals. 
Foster received specimens of the yellow-flowered form from Hoog in 1900 and his note says distinctly 
a yellow Barnumae (MS.). Of the specimens sent to him by Cochran from Urumiah, some pro- 
duced yellow, and some purple, flowers. In view of this fact and also because there are purple- 
and yellow-flowered forms of many other species of Iris, I have little hesitation in reducing /. urmiensis 
to a mere variety of I. Barnumae. 
Both forms are distinguished from all other Oncocyclus Irises except /. atropurpurea by their flowers 
of a clear bright colour, not conspicuously blotched or coarsely veined. 
If the identity of the dark-bearded form of I. Barnumae from Urumiah with the type is admitted, 
I see no means of separating from them Barbey's /. Mariae. The signal patch is perhaps slightly more 
prominent but otherwise the plants seem identical. 
1 This is only a note changing his previous name of /. Helenae to I. Mariae. 
