216 The Xiphium Section 
North Africa. Atlas Mts, , Desfontaines (V). 
Tangier, Djebel Kebir, 1802, Schonsboe (BM) (V). 
Tangier, 1821, Rouschet-Doumeny (K). 
1825, Salzmann (K). 
Algiers, 1832, Schimper (K) (BM) (V) (B). 
1837, Bov£ (K) (B). 
Hamman Meckontier, 18 — , Julien (B). 
Baba Aly, 1850, Jamin (K) (V) (B). 
Maison Carrie, 1882, Joad (K). 
1879, Gandoger (BM) (B). 
Constantine, 1876, Munby (K). 
1856, Choulette (K) (BM) (V) (B). 
B6ne, 1866, Tribout (K) (BM) (V), 1870, Braun (B). 
Tunisia, 1883, Cosson, 1885, Robert (K). 
Ras Kamart, 1888, Barratte (K) (B). 
Gardimau, 1884, Ross (B). 
Diagnosis. 
I. juncea Xiphion ; bulbus subrotundus, tunicis nitide coriaceis, rufescentibus involutus ; perigonii 
tubus elongatus ; segmenta omnia aurea, interiora exterioribus breviora. 
Description. 
Rootstock , a bulb more globose than that of /. 
xiphium, wrapped in a number of somewhat thick and 
rigid smooth reddish brown tunics, which break up 
into stiff points at the top (cf. Fig. 28). 
Leaves, slender, rushlike, 18 — 24 in. long, shoot- 
ing in England in early autumn (October). 
Stem, about 12 in., bearing one or two flowers, 
the second raised on a longer pedicel. 
Spathe valves, lanceolate, narrow, scarious at the 
tips only, not quite so ventricose as in /. xiphium. 
3 — 3a in - lon g- 
Pedicel, short, about £ in., increasing to £ in. 
and i£ in. at the fruiting stage. 
Ovary, triangular, with sides almost flat, not 
grooved as in I. xiphium. 
Tube, slender, — 2 in. long, triangular in sec- 
tion. 
Falls, of a deep yellow colour (except in the variety numidica or Mermieri which is of a paler shade), 
with a nearly orbicular or heart-shaped emarginate blade, separated by a slight constriction from the 
short haft. There are usually a few faint brown veins on the haft and lower part of the blade. 2\ in. 
by i£ in. 
Standards, much shorter than the falls, oblanceolate, unguiculate, emarginate, spreading, not erect, 
if in. by £ in. 
Styles, large and broad, in. long, acutely keeled. 
Crests , large, quadrate, with serrated upper edge reflexed. 
Stigma, bilobed with two pointed teeth. 
Filaments, deep yellow, equal in length to the anthers. 
Anthers, cream. 
Pollen, yellow. 
Capsule, i£ — 3 in. long, rounded, trigonal, with deeply grooved sides so as to be nearly trefoil in 
section. 
Seeds, small, wedge-shaped or cubical, dark brown with small paler appendage. 
Observations. 
This fine Iris is very distinct in appearance and shape from all the other members of the Xiphion 
group. This arises from the fact that the substance of the blade of the falls is much thinner and more 
flimsy than that of the others. The large blades of the falls therefore hang perpendicularly and give 
the flowers a characteristic outline. 
/. juncea is also distinguished by the thick leathery texture of the outer tunics of the bulbs, which 
split up into fibres at the top (see Fig. 28). 
This Iris needs a warm position in well-drained soil that is kept dry in summer. Unless these 
conditions are provided, the bulbs do not get that summer ripening, which is essential to their wellbeing. 
This annual rest, if not obtained naturally, should be provided artificially by lifting the bulbs when the 
foliage withers, and storing them in dry sand for a month or two. Seedlings of this species appear to 
Fig. 28 a. Bulb of I. juncea 
showing the stiff bristles 
into which the outer coats 
split in their upper half. 
Fig. 28 p. Bulb of /. 
juncea with outer coats 
removed. 
