OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 
333 
gardens ; and it is propagated by dividing its roots in autumn. It is perfectly hardy, and it flowers in May and 
June. It is a native of Germany, whence it was introduced before 1596. 
4.— IRIS TRIDENTATA, Pursh. THE THREE-TOOTHED IRIS. 
round, leafy, generally one-flowered, and longer than the leaves; 
perianth not bearded ; inner segments very short, unequal, three- 
toothed ; stigmas three, or sometimes four, having a tooth on each side 
of the base ; capsule triagonal. 
Synon\me. — 1. tripetala, Walt. 
EnGHiTiNGs — Bot. Mag., t. 2886; Sweet't Brit. Flow. Gard., t. 
274 ; and our Jiff. 4, in PI. 89. 
Specific Character. — Leaves linear-ensiform, acuminate ; stem 
Description, &c. — This is a, remarkable species, both in form and colour. The segments of the corolla are 
80 small that they lose their ordinary character, and the stigmas appear to be the petals. The leaves are narrow 
and grass-like. The flowers begin to appear in July, and continue till October. The species is a native of North 
America, and was introduced in 1824. 
6.— IRIS VERNA, MicJue. THE SPRING IRIS. 
Engravings. — Sweet's Brit. Flow. Gard., t, 68 ; and our _^_^. 5, in slightly glaucous; scape sheathed at the base with small leaf-like 
PI. 89. bracts ; segments of the perianth all nearly equal in size ; capsule ob- 
Specific Character. — Stemless ; one-flowered ; leaves linear-ensi- soletely triagonal. 
form, more than twice as long as the flower scape, coriaceous, acute, 
Description, &c. — This species has neither root-stalk nor tubers ; but it has a creeping, underground stem, 
from each joint of which proceeds a flower stem, with a single flower, and two or three leaves. From this habit 
of growth it will be seen that, in favourable situations. Iris verna will soon cover a bed with flowers ; which, 
from their dwarf stature, compact, elegant form and lively colours, have an extremely agreeable appearance. The 
species is a native of North America, whence it was introduced in 1748. It will grow in almost any soil and 
situation j and it is propagated by dividing its creeping stem. 
6.— IRIS NEPALENSIS, D. Don. THE NEPAL IRIS. 
Engravings — Sweet's Brit. Flow. Gard., 2nd ser., t. 11 ; and our 
Jiff. 3, in PI. 89. 
Specific Character. — Beard crested ; leaves linear-ensiform, flat. 
strongly nerved, and terminating in a slender mucro ; perianth tubular, 
elongated ; segments of the limb all spreading, and more or less reflexed ; 
stigmas fringed ; stem round, few flowered, shorter than the leaves. 
Description, &c. — The roots of this species are fleshy, and they are produced in fascicles like those of the 
Dahlia, The flowers are generally of a pale blue ; but they frequently assume a much darker tint. The species 
is a native of Nepal, whence it was introduced in 1830 ; and not, as it is stated in some of the catalogues, in 
1824. A great confusion, indeed, exists respecting this species, in the nurseries ; as another kind, with much 
larger flowers, is frequently called I. Nepalensis. The present species is quite hardy in British gardens. 
OTHER SPECIES OF IRIS, 
These are so very numerous, that the limits of the present work will not allow of their being given in detail. 
They are all natives of temperate climates, and consequently hardy in British gardens ; and the colours of their 
flowers are yellow, blue, violet, purple, and white. 
