THE YELLOW FLAG — continued. 
The three stamens spring from the bases of the sepals, being technically 
epigynous and epiphyllous ; and in the centre of the flower a short, thick, three-sided 
style rises from the inferior ovary and divides into three broad petaloid segments, 
each of which arches outwards over a stamen and then bends upward into two 
triangular points. Just below the bifurcation of these two points a little ligule-like 
ledge projects over the anther and the upper surface of this is the stigma. 
Long-tongued insects visiting the flower for its nectar alight on the spreading 
“fall” and are dusted over with pollen from the outward-curving and extrorse 
anthers. As these anthers are below the projecting ledge self-pollination can seldom 
occur ; but the insect on visiting a second blossom may well deposit some of the 
pollen with which it has been dusted on the stigmatic upper surface of the ledge. 
Bees are the chief pollinators, and it is stated that after pollination the little stigmatic 
ledge or flap is closed so that the pollen may not drop off, or that no further pollen 
may find access to the stigma. 
The many-hued flowers of the various species, of which there are about a 
hundred, gained for the genus the name /m, or rainbow, which is used by 
Theophrastus ; while the ease with which most of them can be cultivated has earned 
for them the modern soubriquet of “ Poor man’s Orchids.” Even alongside the 
purples and whites of the magnificent Japanese Iris lavigata, our Yellow Flag is 
well worthy of cultivation in or near the water. Its names, whether scientific or 
popular, io not, however, suggest its beauty. Pseudacorus refers to the resemblance 
of its rhizome and foliage to those of the Sweet Sedge, Acorus Calamus L., which was 
considered useful in diseases of the eyes ; whilst the Early English “ Livers,” the 
Scandinavian “ Flag,” and apparently “ Gladen ” and “ Sedge,” all refer to the waving 
sword-like foliage. Like several other flowers which exhibit more than one shade of 
yellow, it is known in some counties as “ Butter and Eggs ” ; and the name 
“ Cucumbers,” which is applied to it in Devonshire from the resemblance of the large 
green unripe pods to young cucumbers, evinces, perhaps, rather more observation 
than the others. 
Without entering upon the much controverted question of the origin of the 
“ Fleur-de-lis,” the “ Lily ” of France, which may once have represented three cobras, 
or the Nelumbium or Lotus of the Nile, or a true Lily, it may safely be said that the 
name has long been understood as belonging to an Iris. Though some of our 
earlier botanical writers certainly apply it to this Yellow Flag of ours, it is clear that 
Longfellow’s 
“ Beautiful lily, dwelling by still rivers, 
Or solitary mere,” 
is some other species which combines blue with its gold, since he adds 
“Thou art the Iris, fair among the fairest, 
Who, armed with golden rod 
And winged with the celestial azure, bearest 
The message of some God.” 
