OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 33] 
7.— PRIMULA SIBIRICA, Jacq. THE SIBERIAN PRIMROSE. 
petiolate, and slightly crenated ; umbel few-flowered, loose, and nod- 
ding ; involucre divided into four oval, acute leaflets, which are spur- 
shaped at the base. 
Synonymes. — P. rotundifolia. Pall. ; and P. intermedia, Lede. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 3167, and 3445; and our ^p. .3, in 
PI. 87. 
Specific Character. — Smooth, naked. Leaves oval, or subrotund. 
Description, &c. — This is a very pretty species, and it has the advantage of being quite hardy in British 
gardens. It is a native of Siberia, whence it was introduced in 1818 ; and it is easily distinguished from all the 
other species of Primula, by its inflated calyx, the leaflets of which are swelled out at the base. The flowers of 
this species are produced in April or May. 
8.— PRIMULA CILIATA, Schrank. THE FRINGED AURICULA. 
opaque, and covered all over with very short fine hairs ; scape angular, 
many-flowered; calvx short, campanulate, angular, and fringed with 
fine hairs like the leaves. 
Synonyhes. — P. villosa, Suler ; P. decora, Sima. 
Engravings.— Bot. Mag., t. 1922; Sweet's Brit. Flow. Gard., 2nd 
Bcr., 1. 123 and 296 ; and our Jig. 4, in PI. 87. 
Specific Character. — Leaves obovate, cuneiform, slightly glutinous, | 
Desceiption, &c. — This species is very nearly allied to the Auricula. There are two distinct varieties of it, 
one with pink flowers, figured in Plate 87» and another with purple flowers, which is much the handsomest. 
Both kinds are quite hardy in British gardens, and they require no particular care in their culture. 
OTHEE SPECIES OF PRIMULA. 
These are very numerous. Indeed, more than twenty species might be enumerated, all of which are well 
deserving of cultivation. __^ 
CHAPTER XLIII. 
IRIDACEiE. 
Character of the Order. — Calyx and corolla superior, confounded, 
their divisions either partially cohering, or entirely separate, sometimes 
Irregular, the three petals being sometimes very short. Stamens three, 
arising from the base of the sepals ; filaments distinct or connate ; 
anthers bursting externally lengthwise, fixed by their base, two-celled. 
Ovary three-celled, cells many-seeded ; style one ; stigmas three, often 
petaloid, sometimes two-lipped. Capsule three-celled, three-valved, 
with a loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds attached to the inner angle of the 
cell, sometimes a central column, becoming loose ; albumen corncoui, 
or densely fleshy ; embryo inclosed within it. — (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. — This order is almost entirely confined to herbaceous plants, some of which have bulbous 
roots ; but others have fibrous roots. Those with bulbous roots have been already described in the volume of this 
work devoted to plants of that nature ; and in the present work I shall only describe a few of the more orna- 
mental of the fibrous rooted species belonging to the genera Iris and Sisyrinchium. 
GENUS I. 
IRIS, Lin. THE FLOWER DE LUCE, OR FLAG-FLOWER. 
Lin. Syst. TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Gehi3uc Character. — Spathe two-valved, one, or many-flowered. I or not bearded. Style short. Stigmas three, petal-like, large, oblong, 
Perianth large, and six-parted ; three of the segments erect, and the lying over the stamens, 
three alternate ones reflexed. The stamen bearing segments, bearded I 
Description, &c. — All the species of Iris are remarkable for the beauty of their flowers. They have all a 
curiously folded leaf-like stem, called a spathe, from which the flower issues ; and the flower itself consists of six 
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