THE IRIS FAMILY 
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I. I'ris. Perianth of 3 large and 3 small lobes ; stigmas petal-like, arching over stamens. 
II. Cr6cus. Perianth of 6 nearly equal lobes with a very long tube ; stigmas dilated, cut or fringed. 
III. Romul£a. Perianth of 6 nearly equal lobes; stigmas slender, 2-lobed. 
IV. Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrin'chium.) — Perianth of 6 nearly equal lobes, with a very short tube ; 
stigmas slender, entire. 
V. GladIolus. Perianth almost 2-lipped ; stigmas dilated, entire. 
I. IRIS, FLAG. (IRIS. Linn.) — Flowers large, brightly coloured, few, in branched clusters. 
Perianth 6-lobed, the 3 outer ones large, spreading or turned back, the tube adhering to the 
seedcase; stamens 3, with the anthers turned away from the stigmas and opening towards the 
perianth-lobes (extrorse), inserted on the base of the outer perianth-lobes ; carpels 3, uniting into a 
seedcase and a short thick style which is branched into 3 broad petal-like stigmas which arch over 
the stamens ; fruit a leathery or parchment-like capsule, 3-celled, and opening from the top by 3 
valves to free the seeds, which are usually enclosed in a fleshy substance and look like little berries. 
Herbs with sword-shaped (ensiform) parallel-veined leaves, either all from the root (radical) or 
closely packed on opposite sides of the stem with the edges overlapping (ensiform) ; and a thick 
creeping root. 
(1) Stinking Iris. (I'ris fcetidis'sima.) — Flowers purplish-blue or yellowish-white, in clusters, 
stigmas yellowish ; seeds red. 
(2) I'ris spuria. — Outer perianth-lobes roundish, stigmas violet. 
(3) Yellow Iris. (I'ris Pseudac'orus.) — Flowers bright yellow, in clusters ; seeds brown. 
(4) *Tuberous Iris. (I'ris tuberosa.) — Flowers purple, solitary. 
1. Stinking- Iris, Gladden, Roast-beef Plant. (Iris fcetidis'sima. Linn.)— As 
just described. The flowers are about 3 inches across, pale purplish-blue or rarely yellowish- 
white, 2 or 3 together in the terminal clusters, but usually only x in the side branches ; the stigmas 
are yellowish ; the berry-like seeds are bright scarlet and remain in the open capsule all the winter. 
The stem is 1-2 feet high, compressed ; and the leaves are sword-shaped, deep green, and rather 
shining. The whole plant has a most disagreeable smell when bruised. [. Plate 55. 
Not uncommon. In woods and thickets ; generally distributed throughout the south of England, 
especially on chalky soil, rare in the north, naturalised in a few places in Scotland, and rare in 
Ireland. May — August. Perennial. 
2. I'ris spuria. Linn. — A species with the outer perianth-lobes roundish, the inner lobes 
and the stigmas violet, the capsules terminating in a short point (apiculate), and the leaves narrow. 
Very rare. In marshes at Huttoft, Lincolnshire. 
3. Yellow Iris. (I'ris Pseudac'orus. Linn.) — A similar plant to the Stinking Iris (Iris 
foetidissima), only altogether stouter and with bright yellow flowers, 3-4 inches across, in clusters 
of twos or threes ; green capsules with numerous pale brown berry-like seeds, the outer covering 
of which soon dries ; stems 2-5 feet high, rounder than in the Stinking Iris ; and pale green 
leaves broadly lance-shaped and covered with a bluish bloom (glaucous). 
Common. By the sides of rivers and streams, by pools and ditches, and in marshes ; throughout 
England, Scotland, and Ireland. May — August. Perennial. 
4. ^Tuberous Iris. (I'pis tuberosa. Linn.) — A species with solitary purple flowers, 
4-angled leaves, and tuberous roots. 
Not native, very rare. In orchards and by hedges ; naturalised at Penzance and Cork. May — 
June. Perennial. 
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