The Regelia Section 123 
figures and descriptions leave no doubt that the plant in question here is that which has been in 
cultivation for some years as /. Haynei. 
Whether the name is really applicable to this plant cannot be determined, for all we know of 
/. Haynei is that two specimens were collected by Hayne on Mt Gilboa in 1872 (K), and that the 
colour was originally "lilac-purple” (Baker, Gard. Chron. 1876, 11. p. 710, Hdk. Irid. p. 19 (1892)). It 
is unfortunately no longer possible to see from the specimens (K) whether the flowers were dotted with 
purple or not. 
It should be noticed that in his article in Gartenflora, 1893, P- 486, Wulle mentions the existence 
of a poor dull-coloured form of I. atropurpurea , which some supposed to be Baker’s I. atrofusca, and 
points out that the plants which he had sent to Baker were much finer and larger. 
In 1894 Messrs Dammann sent to Kew the plants which formed the subject of Bot. Mag. t. 7379. 
These are doubtless the poor form of /. alropurpurea, mentioned by Wulle. Baker recognised their 
affinity to that species and accordingly stated that he had come to consider I. atrofusca as a mere 
variety of /. atropurpurea , not apparently realising that the plants that he had originally received from 
Herb and Wulle and described as /. atrofusca were not the same as the later consignment from 
Messrs Dammann. 
The result of this somewhat intricate investigation is that we must attach the name of I. atrofusca 
to the plant well known in gardens now as I. Haynei, until we can ascertain whether this is really the 
Iris that grows on Mt Gilboa. If this proves to be the case, then Baker’s name I. atrofusca of the 
Gard. Chron. becomes a synonym of I. Haynei and his I. atrofusca from the Bot. Mag. becomes 
recognised as a dull brownish-black variety of I. atropurpurea. 
/. atropurpurea must apparently be fairly closely allied to /. Barnumae from which it differs chiefly 
in the colour and in particular in the yellow patch that relieves in the intense black of the falls. 
I. MACVLATA 
Baker in Gard. Chron. 1876, II. p. 517. 
Hdk. Irid. p. 10 (1892). 
Boiss. FI. Or. v. 125 (1884). 
Observations. 
Baker’s description of this supposed species was based on a specimen collected by Aucher-Eloy in 
Mesopotamia. It was placed among the Apogon Irises and was said to resemble /. caucasica in its 
habit of growth. 
This is most probably Aucher-Eloy’s No. 2136 (K), which is undoubtedly an Oncocyclus Iris. 
The sheathing leaves on the stem certainly give it a superficial resemblance to a Juno Iris, and the 
dark signal patch was probably the feature in reference to which Baker gave it the name of /. maculata. 
The colour has now entirely faded away, and it is impossible to say more than that it is an Oncocyclus 
Iris of the group of tall closely allied forms or subspecies found in Syria and Mesopotamia. 
I. DEM A WENDICA 
I. ciemawendica was the name given to an Oncocyclus Iris discovered in 1902 by Bornmuller on 
Mt Elburs in Northern Persia (K) (BM) (V) (B). No description has been published and the dried 
specimens do not afford full details. It is a dwarf plant of the usual Oncocyclus character, with narrow, 
almost linear leaves that are only very slightly falcate, about 6 to 8 inches long. The stem of some 
six inches in length bears a reduced leaf and a single flower. The spathes are narrow, pointed, 
2 — 2^ in. long, and the tube and ovary are approximately equal in length, about £ in. long. The falls 
have a dark diffuse beard and are apparently closely veined and dotted and of a deep violet-purple 
colour. The standards are paler and it is not impossible that the plant is merely a form of /. iberica. 
THE REGELIA SECTION 
This group of Irises was named in honour of Dr Regel of St Petersburg, who in the latter part 
of the nineteenth century did so much to introduce its members and other Asiatic species into cultivation 
in Europe. 
In most of their characteristics, the members of this group closely resemble the Oncocyclus species, 
e.g. in the rhizomes (cf. Plate XLVII) and seeds (cf. Plate XLVIII. Fig. 8). They differ, however, in 
having two, or even three, flowers in the spathe instead of the single flower, which is all that the 
Oncocyclus species produce. Their beards, also, are linear and not widely scattered as is the case with 
the majority of the Oncocyclus Irises. The spathes also are more or less keeled and not rounded. 
Another difference is horticultural rather than botanical and lies in the greater ease and certainty 
with which the Regelia Irises lend themselves to cultivation as contrasted with the Oncocyclus species. 
16 — 2 
