FLAG. 
95 
handsome climber, with heart-shaped 3-lobed leaves. 
The oblong, cylindrical blossoms are at first rosy- 
crimson, but change to orange and yellow, and are 
borne on one side of a curved raceme. Both kinds 
may be raised from seeds sown in heat in March. 
IRIS {Flag ). — The blue-flowered German Iris 
(I. gennanica ) and the white-flowered Florentine Iris 
(I. florentina ) are the best known, and perhaps the 
finest representatives of this large genus, the flowmrs 
of which attract universal attention owing to the 
beauty and brilliance of their colours, and to their 
structure. A host of forms has arisen from the 
German and Florentine Irises, the difference between 
them being chiefly in the innumerable shades of colour 
which vary from pure white to the deepest purple, 
blue, maroon, lavender, bronzy crimson, rosy lilac, 
&c., as shown on Plate 7. 
In addition to these there are what are known as 
the “Bulbous” or “Xiphion” Irises, and the “ Onco- 
cyclus ” or “ Cushion ” Irises. The bulbous Irises 
are best known from the “ Spanish ” Iris (see Plate 20) 
and the “English” Iris {I. xiphioides), both of which 
have more or less ovoid bulbs, rather narrow leaves, 
and flowers remarkable for their beautiful shades 
of colour — white, yellow, blue, purple, bronze, &c. 
Both the Spanish and English Iris are easily grown 
in well-drained garden soil. There are many other 
bulbous Irises that with a little extra care and atten- 
tion may be grown in the rock garden, or for the 
decoration of unlieated greenhouses in winter. Fuller 
particulars concerning them may be found in the 
author’s “ Practical Guide to Garden Plants.” 
