213 
The Xiphium Section 
So many seedlings have been raised with such various names that it seems inadvisable to name 
any as being especially beautiful. Each dealer seems to have different names and their number is 
constantly increasing. Some forms are flaked and mottled in the most curious way but few, if any, 
are more beautiful than the deep violet blue wild type. Seedlings, apparently, always at first produce 
flowers of a uniform colour and only change into flaked and mottled varieties after an indefinite 
number of years. This phenomenon is similar to that observed in Tulips. 
t+/. XIPHIUM 
(Plate XLIII) 
Linn. Spec. PI. ed. I. p. 40 (1753), ex parte (see Observations, p. 214). 
Ehrhardt, Beitr. VII. 139 (1792). 
•Bot. Mag. t. 686 (1803). 
Pers. Syn. Plant p. 52 (1805). 
•Red. Lil. t 337 (1812). 
•Drapiez, Herb. Amat de FI. I. t 68 (1828). 
•Journ. Hort. Soc. xxviii. fig. 144 (1903-4). 
Baker, Hdk. Irid. p. 39 (1892). 
•Lynch, Book of the Iris, p. 154 (1904). 
Nyman, Consp. p. 699 (1878-82), Suppl. p. 294 (1883-4). 
Ascher. und Graeb. Syn. Mit. FI. III. 513 (1906). 
Synonyms. 
Xiphium vulgare, Miller, Gard. Diet. ed. vm. no. 2 (1768). 
Baker in J. L. S. XVI. p. 122 (1877). 
Xiphium verum, Schrank, Flora VII (1824), 2. Beibl. 16. 
I. variabilis, Jacq. Coll. II. 321 (1788) (?a garden hybrid). 
Richter, Plant Eur. I. 258 (1890). 
I. coronaria, Salisb. Prodr. p. 45 (1796). 
I. hispanica , Hort. ex Steud. Nom. ed. I. p. 438 (1821). 
I. serotina, Willkomm in Willk. et Lange, Prod. FI. Hisp. I. 141 (1861). 
/. lusitanica , *Ker-Gawl. in Bot. Mag. t 679 (1803). 
Xiphium sordidum, Soland. ex Salisb. in Trans. Hort Soc. I. (1812), p. 303, non Retz. nec Willd. 
[This is said to vary exceedingly in the colour of its flowers and is obviously a garden plant] 
I. spectabilis, Spach. in Ann. Sc. Nat. Sdr. in. v. p. 93 (1846). 
I. Taitii , Foster in Gard. Chron. 1906, II. p. 145. 
[N.B. There are undoubtedly yellow-flowered forms of this Iris to which the varietal name of /. lusitanica 
is traditionally applied (see also p. 214). The figure in the Bot. Mag. t. 679 probably only represents 
a garden form and the statement that the plant figured was identical with SolandePs Xiphium 
sordidum (cf. l.c.) is of little value for Salisbury distinctly states that his plant sported exceedingly 
in the colour of the flowers. The latter was therefore presumably also a garden form. 
I have had in cultivation some bulbs of the Iris that Foster named I. Taitii sent to me by Mr A. VV. Tait 
himself and I cannot distinguish the plants either in growth or in the flowers from slender forms 
of Xiphium except in their habit of flowering late in June or even in July. Willkomm’s I. serotina 
was probably a similar form. Cf. Reverchon’s specimens (E), from the Sierras de Cazorla and del 
Pinar, at a height of 5400 and 5100 ft, which flowered in September and August respectively.] 
DISTRIBUTION. The South of Spain and Portugal, the South of France, the North of Africa. 
Spain and Portugal. Serra de Monsanto, 1880, Moller (B) (K). 
Cintra, 1888, Murray (BM). 
Lake Albufeira, 1844, Willkomm (E) (B). 
Arrabida, 1851, Welwitsch (K). 
Estremadura, 1848, Welwitsch (BM). 
Villanova de Portimao, 1876, Hackel (V) (B). 
Loul£, 1881, Daveau (C) (K). 
Sanlucar de Barameda, 1849, Bourgeau (C) (K). 
Seville, 1877, Joad (K). 
Cuenca (Cordoba), 1898, Gandoger (V). 
Algeciras, 1845, Willkomm (K). 
Sierra del Pinar, 1900, Reverchon (E). 
Sierra d'Estepona, 1837, Boissier (K) (V) (B). 
Sierra de Mijas, 1837, Boissier (K) (V) (B). 
Sierra de Ronda, 1889, Reverchon (E). 
Sierra de Cazorla, 1901, Reverchon (E). 
R. Monachil, 1847, Schimper (B). 
Las Alpujarras, 1903, Gandoger (B). 
Sierra de Gador, 1902, Gandoger (B). 
Miranda do Douro, 1888, de Mariz (B). 
Albaceta, 1891, Porta et Rigo (BM) (E). 
Valencia, 1846, Willkomm (BM) 
Teruel, 1895, Reverchon (BM) (E) (V) (B). 
France. Beziers (Roquehaute), 1856, Grenier (BM). 1862, Cosson (E), 1865, Thielens (BM), 1867, ( V). 
Between Roquehaute and the sea, 1912, Denis (HortD), found in full flower on July 1st 
