This plant hath a thick fiefhy root, divided into many 
knots or tubers, which ipread and multiply in the 
ground •, thefe fend out many ftrong, thick, fiefhy fi- 
bres, which ftrike deep in the earth, putting out fe- 
veral fmaller fibres from their fides. From thefe roots 
arife clu iters of fiat fword-fhaped leaves of a deep 
green colour, which are more than three feet Ions, 
and little more than one inch broad in the broadeit 
part, ending in points 5 thefe leaves are connected to- 
gether at their bafe into feveral heads or bundles, 
wrapping over each other •, and between thefe arife 
the flower-ftalks, which grow four feet high and are 
jointed, having very long fpathae or fheaths at each 
of the upper joints, which include the flowers. Thefe 
Talks generally fuftain two flowers, one coming out 
of each fheath or fpatha ; thefe are permanent, and 
when the flowers are pad', clofely cover the feed-veffel. 
The flowers are divided into nine leaves, three of 
thefe Hand erect, which are white, and fix turn down, 
which are joined together at their bafe, the lower 
ipreading out into a broad, obtufe, reflexed fall, 
having a beard which is of a bright yellow colour ; the 
upper fegment is arched over the lower, ib as to form 
a fort of lip, which is refiexed backward ; under thefe 
is fituated an oblong three-cornered germen, which af- 
terward becomes an oblong, fwollen, three-cornered 
feed-veffel, ending in a long point, which opens into 
three longitudinal cells, in which the feeds are ranged; 
thefe are angular and comprefifed. This plant flowers 
the latter end of June, or the beginning of July, and 
the feeds ripen in the autumn. It is very hardy, and 
thrives well in the open air without any protection. 
The leaves decay to the root in the autumn, and new 
ones arife in the fpring. The roots aifo propagate 
very faft, when they are in a light moifl foil, lb that 
it may foon be had in plenty, without waiting for 
plants from feeds. 
The tenth fort grows naturally in Auftria ; this hath 
narrow, fiat, Grafs-like leaves, about a foot long, of 
a light green colour ; between thefe arife the italics 
about fix inches high, having two narrow green leaves, 
which are much longer than the {talks ; thefe ftalks 
fuftain two or three flowers, which are fmaller than 
any of the former fpecies ; the petals have no beards, 
but have a broad yellow line adorned with purple 
ftripes ; the three falls are of a light purple colour 
ftriped with blue, and have a convex ridge running 
longitudinally, the other are of a reddilh purple va- 
riegated with violet; they have a fcent like frefh 
Plums. It flowers in July, and is fucceeded by feed- 
veflels which are fliort, having three borders or wings 
running lengthways, opening in three cells, which are 
filled with angular feeds, which ripen in September. 
The eleventh fort grows naturally near the fea, in the 
fouth of France, and in Italy. This hath narrow 
fword-ihaped leaves, little more than a foot long, of 
a deep green colour ; the ftalks do not rife fo tall as 
the leaves; they fuftain at the top two or three flowers 
which Hand near together; they are of a bright 
purple colour with very deep falls, and the three 
itandards are blue ; the bending petals have no beards, 
but inftead of that white broad ftripes through the 
middle. This flowers in July, and the feeds ripen in 
September. 
The twelfth fort hath narrower leaves than the former, 
but of the fame deep green colour; the ftalks do not 
rife higher than the leaves, and fupport two or three 
flowers, which have long permanent empalements 
Handing* ered, which cover the feed-veffel till the 
feeds are ripe ; the flowers are fmaller, and of a paler 
colour than thofe of the eleventh fort. 
The thirteenth fort has very narrow, long, Grafs-like 
leaves, of a light green ; the ftalks rife two feet and 
a half high, fuftaining three or four flowers above each 
other, which have blue falls, and purple Itandards 
ftriped with pale blue lines. This flowers in July, 
and the feeds ripen at Michaelmas. 
The fourteenth fort grows naturally in Germany ; this 
hath leaves like thofe of the eleventh fort, which, 
when broken, have a difagreeable fcent; but this is 
accidental, and not common to all the plants ; the 
ftalks of this are taper, and rife a little above the 
leaves, and fuftain three or four flowers one above 
another, which have light blue ftandards, and purple 
variegated falls without beards; inftead of which, they 
have a broad white line in the middle; thefe are fuc- 
ceeded by fhort thick capfules, which have ficarco anv 
angles, opening in three cells, which are filled 1 with 
angular feeds, it flowers in July, and the feeds ripen 
in September. 
The fifteenth fort has narrower leaves than thofe of 
the lecond, of a pale green colour, and not fo ft.iff 5 
the ftalks are equal in height with the leaves, and 
branch out on both fides with long foot -ftalks, each 
fuftaining one pretty large yellow flower, inclofed in 
a long two-leaved fheath ; at each joint where the 
foot- ftalks come out there is a Angle leaf, which em- 
braces the ftalks with their bafe. This flowers in June, 
but rarely produces feeds in this country. 
There are two varieties of this fort, one with a ful- 
phur-coloured, and the other with a variegated flower, 
which are fuppofed to be only varieties which have 
been accidentally produced from feeds. 
The fixteenth fort hath broad fword-fnaped leaves 
about eight inches long ; the ftalks rife about the fame 
height with the leaves, and divide into two or three 
foot-ftalks, each fuftaining two or three flowers one 
above another, which have yellow ftandards, and the 
falls are variegated with dark ftripes. This flowers 
in June, but does not produce feeds here. 
The feventeenth fort grows naturally in North Ame- 
rica ; this hath tufted fibrous roots, from which arife 
many Grafs-like leaves about nine inches long ; from 
between thefe come out the ftalks, which are Jborter 
than the leaves, fupporting one purple flower with 
blue ftandards. This fort flowers in May, but feldom 
produces feeds in England. 
The eighteenth fort grows alfo in North America ; 
this hath narrow {word Tr aped leaves about a foot , 
long, of a light green colour ; the ftalks rife a little 
above the leaves, they are taper, and fupport two or 
three flowers one above another ; the ftandards are of 
a light blue, and the falls are purple variegated, with 
a broad white line inftead of a beard through the 
middle.. The germen, which is fituated under the 
Tower, is three-cornered below, but taper toward the 
top. This flowers in June, and often produces feeds 
here. 
The nineteenth fort grows naturally in moift places 
in many parts of England, fo is feldom admitted into 
gardens. This hath thick tufted fibrous roots ; the 
leaves are of a Grafs-green, fword-ihaped, and when 
broken emit a ftrong odour, not much unlike that of 
hot roaft beef at the firft fcent, but if fmelt too clofe, 
becomes difagreeable. It is generally called flunking 
Gladwyn in England ;. the ftalks rife about the fame 
height with the leaves, fuppordng two {mall flowers, 
of a purple colour, variegated. It flowers in June, 
and the feeds ripen in autumn. 
The twentieth fort grows naturally in Auftria and 
Bohemia; this hath narrow fword-ihaped leaves near 
a foot and a half long, of a dark green colour ; the 
fiower-ftalks rife above the leaves, and iupport two 
or three flowers with light blue ftandards, and deep 
blue falls, with a broad ftripe of white, inftead of the 
beard. This flowers in July, and the feeds ripen in 
September. 
There are feveral varieties of thefe flag or fwqrd-leaved 
Irifes, which chiefly differ in the colour of their flow- 
ers, fo are not to be regarded as diftinct fpecies ; thofe 
which are here enumerated are fuppofed to be fpe- 
cificaily Gifteient, great part of them I have cultivated 
by feeds, and found them conftantly produce the fame 
as the parent plants. • 
All thefe forts are generally propagated by parting 
of their roots, which moft of them multiply faft 
enough. The beft time to remove and part the roots 
is in autumn, that they may get good root before the 
fpring, otherwise they will not flower ftrona the fol- 
lowing fummer. All thofe forts which fpread much' 1 
