I RIS MACULATA. 
SPOTTED IRIS. 
Class. 
TRIANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
IRIDE-E. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration . 
Introduced 
America. 
18 inches. 
June. 
Perennial. 
in 18.30 ? 
No. 695. 
< For the meaning of the word Iris, see Nos. 278, 
303. The name Fleur-de-lis, which is sometimes 
applied to the plants of this genus, has been no- 
ticed under No. 274. 
This favourite genus of plants is admired, as 
well for the curious structure of its flowers, as for 
its beauty and variety. Were it not that many of 
its species are so completely hardy and increase so 
rapidly, whereby some one or other of them is fre- 
quently under the eye of the admirer of Flora’s 
beauties, they would doubtless rank with the very 
choicest of the garden’s ornaments. The formation 
of the flower of the Iris, although it partakes of 
the ternary arrangement, in common with nume- 
rous other endogenous plants, still is worthy of 
more than a passing notice. Dr. Lindley, in a 
familiar description of it in his Ladies’ Botany, says 
The three sepals are broad and spreading, and 
often ornamented with a beautiful feathered crest; 
the three petals stand erect, and curve over the 
centre of the flower; while the stigmas are broad 
richly coloured parts, resembling petals, and curve 
away from the centre. At first sight you would 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
